Cordless desktop bar code symbol reader having integrated viewing aperture for sighting of bar code symbols to be scanned

ABSTRACT

A portable bar code symbol reading system for desktop use includes a hand-graspable housing that has a viewing aperture and a light-transmission aperture through which light can exit and enter the housing. A bar code symbol reader is included in the housing as is a laser and a scanner to scan the visible beam produced by the laser across a scan field and the bar code symbol. The laser light deflected off the bar code symbol produces scan data indicative of the detected light intensity. That scan data is processed in the housing to detect the bar code symbol and to automatically generate an activation signal. A programmed microprocessor also contained in the housing processes the scan data in response to the activation signal to decode the detected bar code symbol and to produce symbol character data representative of the decoded bar code symbol.

RELATED CASES

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/292,237 entitled"PORTABLE CODE SYMBOL READING DEVICE WITH ONE-WAY WIRELESS DATA PACKETTRANSMISSION LINK TO BASE UNIT EMPLOYING CONDITION-DEPENDENT ACOUSTICALSIGNALLING FOR DATA PACKET RECEPTION ACKNOWLEDGMENT" (AS AMENDED) filedAug. 17, 1994. Which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.07/898,919, entitled "Automatic Laser Scanning System and Method ofRecording Bar Code Symbols Using Same", filed on Jun. 12, 1993 now5,340,973. The present application is also a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 07/761,123 entitled "Automatic Code Reading SystemHaving Selectable Long-Range and Short-Range Modes of Operation" filedSep. 17, 1991 now 5,340,971, which is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 07/583,421, entitled "Method and Apparatus forAutomatically Reading Bar Code Symbols", filed Sep. 17, 1990 now U.SPat. No. 5,260,553. The present application is also acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/821,917 entitled"Hands-Free Body Mounted Scanner and Method of Using the Same" filedJan. 16, 1992 now abandoned. Each said patent application is assigned toand commonly owned by Metrologic Instruments, Inc. of Blackwood, N.J.,and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully setforth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to bar code symbol reading systems havingone or more base stations or units, and one or more hand-held bar codesymbol reading devices each remotely suitable from the base station(s)and capable of sending symbol character data over distance(s) thereto.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Bar code symbols have become widely used in many commercial environmentssuch as, for example, point-of-sale (POS) stations in retail stores andsupermarkets, inventory and document tracking, and diverse data controlapplications. To meet the growing demands of this recent technologicalinnovation, bar code symbol readers of various types have been developedfor scanning and decoding bar code symbol patterns and producing symbolcharacter data for use as input in automated data processing systems.

In general, prior art hand-held bar code symbol readers using laserscanning mechanisms can be classified into two major categories.

The first category of hand-held laser-based bar code symbol readersincludes manually-actuated trigger-operated systems having lightweight,hand-held laser scanners which can be supported in the hand of the user.The user positions the hand-held laser scanner at a specified distancefrom the object bearing the bar code symbol, manually activates thescanner to initiate reading and then moves the scanner over otherobjects bearing bar code symbols to be read. Prior art bar code symbolreaders illustrative of this first category are disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,387,297 to Swartz; 4,575,625 to Knowles; 4,845,349 to Cherry;4,825,057 to Swartz, et al.; 4,903,848 to Knowles; 5,107,100 to Shepard,et al.; 5,080,456 to Katz, et al.; and 5,047,617 to Shepard, et al.

The second category of hand-held laser-based bar code symbol readersincludes automatically actuated systems having lightweight triggerlesshand-held laser scanners which can be supported in the hand of the user.The user positions the hand-held laser scanner at a specified distancefrom the object bearing the bar code, the presence of the object isautomatically detected, the presence of the bar code symbol on theobject is detected, and thereafter the detected bar code symbolautomatically read. Prior art illustrative of this second category oflaser-based bar code symbol reading systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,639,606 to Boles, et al., and 4,933,538 to Heiman, et al.

Presently, there are basically two methods of interconnecting thehand-held laser-based bar code scanner to its base unit which, dependingon the particular application, may be either a controller, akeyboard-scanner interface device, or a central or host computer. Thefirst method of interconnection employs physical wiring between eachhand-held bar code scanner and its associated base unit. Typically, thephysical wiring is realized as flexible cord having a coiled structureto permit elongation as required during bar code symbol readingapplications.

A major drawback with bar code symbol reading systems using thephysical-wiring method of interconnection is that the movement of theportable hand-held laser scanning device is restricted by the overall(extended) length of the flexible cord used. In many applications, suchas product inventory, the use of such bar code symbol reading systems issimply unacceptable.

The second method of interconnection employs a "wireless"electromagnetic communication link between each hand-held bar codescanner (or reader) and its associated base unit. Typically, theelectromagnetic communication link is established by transmitting andreceiving electromagnetic signals over either the radiofrequency (RF)region or infra-red (IR) region of the electromagnetic energy spectrum.Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,418,277 toTremmel, et al. and 5,157,687 to Tymes, and in the U.S. Patents citedtherein.

While prior art bar code symbol reading systems employing the wirelessmethod of interconnection offer a marked degree of flexibility oversystems utilizing the physical wiring method of interconnection, suchprior art systems nevertheless suffer from a number of shortcomings anddrawbacks. In particular, these prior art systems require two-way packetcommunications which involves the use of complex data communicationsprotocols and a separate transmitter and a receiver (i.e., transceiver)at each hand-held bar code symbol reader and base unit in the system.Typically, these data communications requirements increase the cost ofmanufacture of such systems, and substantially increase the electricalpower consumption at each hand-held bar code symbol reader.

Thus, there is a great need in the bar code symbol reading art for a barcode symbol reading system and method which overcomes theabove-described shortcomings and drawbacks without compromising systemperformance and versatility.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea bar code symbol reading system having at least one hand-supportablebar code symbol reading device which, after each successful reading of acode symbol, automatically synthesizes and then transmits a data packetto a base unit positioned within the data transmission range of the barcode symbol reading device, and upon the successful receipt of thetransmitted data packet and recovery of symbol character data therefrom,the base unit transmits an acoustical acknowledgement signal that isperceptible to the user of the bar code symbol reading device residingwithin the data transmission range thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a systemwith one or more automatic (i.e., triggerless) hand-supportablelaser-based bar code symbol reading devices, each of which is capable ofautomatically transmitting data packets to its base unit after eachsuccessful reading of a bar code symbol.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a bar codesymbol reading system in which the hand-supportable bar code symbolreading device can be used as either a portable hand-supported laserscanner in an automatic hands-on mode of operation, or as a stationarylaser projection scanner in an automatic hands-free mode of operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a bar codesymbol system, in which the base unit is adapted to support thehand-supportable bar code symbol reading device in its automatichands-free mode of operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a bar codesymbol system in which the base unit contains a battery rechargingdevice that automatically recharges batteries contained in thehand-supportable device when the hand-supportable device is supportedwithin the base unit.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system with a mode of operation thatpermits the user to automatically read one or more bar code symbols onan object in a consecutive manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system, in which a plurality ofautomatic hand-supportable bar code symbol reading devices are used inconjunction with a plurality of base units, each of which is mated to aparticular bar code symbol reading device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system, in which radio frequency (RF)carrier signals of the same frequency are used by each hand-supportablebar code symbol reading device to transmit data packets to respectivebase units.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system, in which a novel data packettransmission and reception scheme is used to minimize the occurrence ofdata packet interference at each base unit during data packet reception.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system, in which the novel data packettransmission and reception scheme enables each base unit to distinguishdata packets associated with consecutively different bar code symbolsread by a particular bar code symbol reading device, without thetransmission of electromagnetic-based data packet acknowledgment signalsafter receiving each data packet at the base unit.

A further object is to provide such an automatic bar code symbol readingdevice, in which the automatic hand-supportable bar code (symbol)reading device has an infrared (IR) based object detection field whichspatially encompasses at least a portion of its visible laser light scanfield along the operative scanning range of the device, therebyimproving the laser beam pointing efficiency of the device during theautomatic bar code reading process of the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an automaticbar code symbol reading system, in which the base unit has a supportframe that supports the hand-supportable housing of the device in aselected mounting position, and permits complete gripping of the handleportion of the hand-supportable housing prior to removing it from thesupport frame.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system, in which the hand-supportablebar code reading device has long and short-range modes of objectdetection, bar code symbol detection and bar code symbol reading. Thelong and short range modes of object detection may be manually selectedby the user by way of manual activation of a switch on thehand-supportable housing of the device. In one illustrative embodiment,the long-range modes of object detection may be automatically selectedwhen the hand-supportable bar code reading device is placed within thesupport stand during the hands-free mode of operation. In thisembodiment, the short-range mode of object detection is automaticallyselected whenever the hand-supportable bar code reading device is pickedup from the support stand and used in its hands-on mode of operation.

In another embodiment, the short range mode of bar code presencedetection may be automatically selected upon decoding a predesignatedbar code symbol preprogrammed to induce the short-range mode of bar codepresence detection. In the short-range mode of bar code presencedetection, the automatic bar code reading device not only detects thepresence of a bar code within the scan field by analysis of collectedscan data, but it further processes the collected scan data to producedigital count data representative of the measured time interval betweenbar and/or space transitions. Bar code symbols present within theshort-range of the scan field, produce scan data having time intervalcharacteristics falling within a prespecified timing data range. Usingthe results of this analysis, only bar code symbols scanned within theshort-range field are deemed "detected," and only bar code symbolsdetected within the short-range of the scan field activate the decodingmodule of the device and thus enable bar code symbol reading.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system, in which the hand-supportablebar code reading device has long and short range modes of bar codesymbol reading within its scan field. In the short-range mode of barcode symbol reading, the only decoded bar code symbols residing withinthe short-range portion of the scan field, are deemed "read".

Another object of the present invention to provide an automatichand-supportable bar code reading device which has both long andshort-range modes of object detection and bar code symbol reading thatare automatically selectable by placing the hand-supportable devicewithin its support stand and removing it therefrom. With this particularembodiment of the present invention, the automatic bar code symbolreading system can be used in various bar code symbol readingapplications, such as, for example, charge coupled device (CCD) scanneremulation and bar code "menu" reading in the hands-on short-range modeof operation, and counter-top projection scanning in the hands-freelong-range mode of operation.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide anautomatic hand-supportable bar code reading device which preventsmultiple reading of the same bar code symbol due to dwelling of thelaser scanning beam upon a bar code symbol for an extended period oftime.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a point-of-salestation incorporating the automatic bar code symbol reading system ofthe present invention.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatichand-supportable bar code reading device having a control system whichhas a finite number of states through which the device may pass duringits automatic operation, in response to diverse conditions automaticallydetected within the object detection and scan fields of the device.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide aportable, fully automatic bar code symbol reading system which iscompact, simple to use and versatile.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a novelmethod of reading bar code symbols using an automatic hand-supportablelaser scanning device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wirelessautomatic bar code symbol reading device having a housing that can becomfortably mounted to the wrist of its user, similar to a wristbracelet or a watch, and which can be reconfigured when not in use toprovide its user greater hand mobility.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a bar codesymbol reading, in which the laser scanning plane thereof extendsupwardly, downwardly, or laterally transverse to the pointing directionof the wearer's hand on which the device is mounted.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a bar codesymbol reading system, in which the base unit functions as a "desktopwedge" (i.e., keyboard interface device) for interfacing a keyboard andthe bar code symbol reading device, with a host or like computer system,so that "keyboard-scan formatted" data produced from the keyboard andthe bar code reading device is identically formatted for entry into thehost computer system through a single data input port, and subsequentprocessing therein.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a desk-top barcode symbol reading having a base unit with a small bar code symbolprinting engine.

An even further object of the invention is to provide such a bar codereading system, in which the base unit is realized as a PCMCIA cardinstallable in the PCMCIA port of personal computer system, includingnotebook computers, palm top computers, personal digital assistantdevices, desk-top computers and the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a point-of-salestation incorporating the automatic bar code symbol reading system ofthe present invention.

These and further objects of the present invention will become apparenthereinafter and in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the Objects of the Present Invention, theDetailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiments of the PresentInvention should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first illustrative embodiment of theautomatic bar code symbol reading device of the present invention, shownsupported within the scanner support stand portion of its matching baseunit, for automatic hands-free operation;

FIG. 1A is an elevated front view of the automatic bar code symbolreading device of FIG. 1, shown supported within the scanner supportstand portion of its base unit;

FIG. 1B is a plan view of the automatic bar code symbol reading systemshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the automatic bar code symbol reading systemshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first illustrative embodiment of theautomatic hand supportable bar code symbol reading device of the presentinvention, shown being used in the automatic hands-on mode of operation;

FIG. 2A is an elevated, cross-sectional side view taken along thelongitudinal extent of the automatic bar code symbol reading device ofFIG. 2, showing the various components contained therein, including theautomatic bar code symbol reading engine of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional plan view taken along line 2B-2B of FIG.2A, showing the various components contained therein;

FIG. 3 is an elevated side view of the first illustrative embodiment ofthe automatic bar code symbol reading device of the present invention,illustrating the spatial relationship between the object detection andscan fields of the device, and the long and short-ranges of programmedobject detection, bar code presence detection, and bar code symbolreading;

FIG. 3A is a plan view of the automatic bar code symbol reading devicetaken along line 3A--3A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second illustrative embodiment ofthe automatic bar code symbol reading device of the present invention,shown mounted on the wrist of an operator with its object and scanfields extending along the pointing direction of the operator's handduring automatic hands-free operation;

FIG. 4A is an elevated, cross-sectional side view of the automatic barcode symbol reading device of FIG. 4, taken along the longitudinalextent thereof, while configured in its reading configuration, showingthe various components contained therein;

FIG. 4B is an elevated, cross-sectional side view of the automatic barcode symbol reading device of FIG. 4, taken along the longitudinalextent thereof, while configured in its nonreading configuration,showing the various components contained therein, including theautomatic bar code symbol reading engine of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the third illustrative embodiment ofthe automatic bar code symbol reading device of the present invention,showing its wrist-mountable housing and the various system componentscontained therein;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the automatic bar code symbol readingdevice of FIG. 5A, shown mounted on the wrist of an operator with itsobject and scan fields extending laterally transverse to the pointingdirection of the operator's hand during automatic hands-free operation;

FIG. 5C is a perspective view of the automatic bar code symbol readingdevice of FIG. 5A, shown mounted on the wrist of an operator with itsobject and scan fields extending upwardly transverse to the pointingdirection of the operator's hand during automatic hands-free operation;

FIG. 5D is a perspective view of the automatic bar code symbol readingdevice of FIG. 5A, shown mounted on the wrist of an operator with itsobject and scan fields extending downwardly transverse to the pointingdirection of the operator's hand during automatic hands-free operation;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the fourth illustrative embodiment ofthe automatic bar code symbol reading device of the present invention,shown supported in its rechargeable base unit, equipped with a bar codesymbol printing engine connected thereto;

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the fourth illustrative embodimentof the bar code symbol reading device, taken along line 6B--6B of FIG.6A, showing the device resting in its base unit during a batteryrecharging operation;

FIG. 6C is a plan view of the fourth illustrative embodiment of the barcode symbol reading device of the present invention, shown reading a barcode symbol printed on a sheet of paper;

FIG. 6D is is a perspective view of the fourth illustrative embodimentof the bar code symbol reading device of the present invention, shownreading a bar code symbol printed on a sheet of paper while in proximitywith its mated base unit;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the automatic laser-based bar codesymbol reading engine of the present invention, showing its miniature"match-box" size housing;

FIG. 7B is an elevated front view of the automatic bar code symbolreading engine of the present invention, showing the geometricalcharacteristics of its light transmission window;

FIG. 7C is an elevated rear view of the automatic bar code symbolreading engine of the present invention, showing its input/output signalport;

FIG. 7D is a perspective view of the automatic bar code symbol readingengine of the present invention, shown within the upper portion of theminiature match-box size housing removed off from the lower housingportion thereof;

FIG. 7E is a plan view of the underside of the upper portion of thematch-box size housing, showing the optical layout of the laser beamscanning optics of the device;

FIG. 7F is a perspective exploded view of the automatic bar code symbolreading engine of the present invention, showing the spatialrelationships among the printed circuit boards, the upper and lowerhousing portions, and the laser beam scanning optics thereof;

FIG. 7G is a perspective exploded view of an alternative embodiment ofthe automatic bar code symbol reading engine of the present invention,showing the spatial relationships among the printed circuit boards,including the printed board supporting the data packet transmissioncircuit of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a system block functional diagram of the automatic bar codesymbol reading system of the present invention, illustrating theprincipal components integrated with the control (sub)system thereof;

FIG. 8A is a functional logic diagram of the system override signaldetection circuit in the Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)chip in the automatic bar code symbol reading engine of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8B is a functional logic diagram of the oscillator circuit in theASIC chip in the automatic bar code symbol reading engine of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8C is a timing diagram for the oscillator circuit of FIG. 8B;

FIG. 8D is a block functional diagram of the object detection circuit(i.e., system activation means) in the ASIC chip in the automatic barcode symbol reading engine of the present invention;

FIG. 8E is a functional logic diagram of the first control circuit (C₁)of the control system of the present invention;

FIG. 8F is a functional logic diagram of the clock divide circuit in thefirst control circuit C₁ of FIG. 8E;

FIG. 8G is table setting forth Boolean logic expressions for theenabling signals produced by the first control circuit C₁ ;

FIG. 8H is a functional block diagram of the analog to digital (A/D)signal conversion circuit in the ASIC chip in the bar code symbolreading engine of the present invention;

FIG. 8I is a functional logic diagram of the bar code symbol (Presence)detection circuit in the ASIC chip in the bar code symbol reading engineof the present invention;

FIG. 8J is a functional logic diagram of the clock divide circuit in thebar code symbol detection circuit of FIG. 8I;

FIG. 8K is a schematic representation of the time window andsubintervals maintained by the bar code symbol detection circuit duringthe bar code symbol detection process, FIG. 8L is a functional logicdiagram of the second control circuit (C₂) in the ASIC chip in theautomatic bar code symbol reading engine of the present invention;

FIG. 8M is Boolean logic table defining the functional relationshipsamong the input and output signals into and out from the second controlcircuit C₂ of FIG. 8N;

FIG. 8N is a schematic representation of the format of each data packettransmitted from the data packet transmission circuit of FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the data packet transmissioncircuit of the bar code symbol reading system of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation illustrating several groups ofdata packets transmitted from the bar code symbol reading device hereofin accordance with the principles of data packet transmission andreception scheme of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of an exemplary set of groups ofdata packet pseudo randomly transmitted from neighboring bar code symbolreading devices, and received at one base unit in physical proximitytherewith;

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of an exemplary set of datapackets simultaneously transmitted from three neighboring bar codesymbol reading devices of the present invention, and received at theassociated base units assigned thereto;

FIGS. 13A to 13C, taken together, show a high level flow chart of thecontrol process performed by the control subsystem of the bar codesymbol reading device, illustrating various modes of object detection,bar code presence detection and bar code symbol reading;

FIG. 14 is a state diagram illustrating the various states that theautomatic hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device of theillustrative embodiment may undergo during the course of its programmedoperation;

FIG. 15A is a perspective view of the scanner support stand housing ofthe countertop base unit of the present invention;

FIG. 15B is a perspective view of the base plate portion of thecountertop base unit of the present invention;

FIG. 15C is a perspective, partially broken away view of the assembledcountertop base unit of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram of the data packet receiving andprocessing circuitry and the acknowledgment signal generating circuitryof the present invention realized on the printed circuit board in thebase unit shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C;

FIG. 16A is a functional block diagram of the radio receiver subcircuitof the data packet receiving circuit of FIG. 16;

FIG. 16B is a functional block diagram of the digitally controlledacoustical acknowledgment signal generating circuit of the presentinvention;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating the steps undertaken during thecontrol process carried out in the base unit of FIG. 15C;

FIG. 18A is a perspective view of the portable data collection base unitof the present invention, interfaceable with a host computer system fortransferring symbol character data collected from the bar code symbolreading device of the present invention;

FIG. 18B is an elevated side view of the portable data collection baseunit of the present invention;

FIG. 18C is an elevated end view of the portable data collection baseunit the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram of the data packet receiving andprocessing circuit, the acknowledgment signal generating circuit and thehost computer interface circuit of the present invention, realizedaboard the printed circuit board in the portable data collection baseunit of the present invention;

FIGS. 20A to 20D is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed duringthe control process carried out within the portable data collection baseunit of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the PCMCIA card base unit of thepresent invention shown installed within the PCMCIA slot of a portablelap-top computer system;

FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram of the data packet receiving andprocessing circuit, the acknowledgment signal generating circuit, andhost interface circuit realized on the printed PCMCIA circuit board ofthe card-type base unit shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed during thecontrol process conducted within the PCMCIA-card type base unit shown inFIG. 20;

FIG. 24A is a perspective view of the housing for the desktop base unitof the present invention;

FIG. 24B is a perspective view of the base plate portion of the desktopbase unit of the present invention;

FIG. 24C is a perspective view of the assembled desktop base unit of thepresent invention, shown physically coupled to a bar code symbolprinting engine, and the serial communications port of a host computersystem;

FIG. 25 is a block functional diagram of the data packet receiving andprocessing circuit and the acknowledgment signal generating circuitrealized on the printed circuit board aboard the base unit shown in FIG.24C;

FIG. 26 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed during thecontrol process carried out within the desktop base unit of FIG. 24C;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a desktop computer workstation, withwhich the desktop bar code symbol reading system of the presentinvention is installed;

FIG. 28A is a perspective view of the housing for the keyboard-interfacebase unit of the present invention;

FIG. 28B is a perspective view of the base plate portion of thekeyboard-interface base unit of the present invention;

FIG. 28C is a perspective view of the assembled keyboard-interface baseunit of the present invention, shown electrically interfaced with thekeyboard and serial communications port of a host computer system;

FIG. 29 is a block functional diagram of the data packet receiving andprocessing circuit, the acknowledgment signal generating circuit and thekeyboard/bar-code reader interface circuit realized on the printedcircuit board aboard the keyboard-interface base unit shown in FIG. 28C;

FIG. 30 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed during thecontrol process carried out within the keyboard-interface base unit ofFIG. 28C;

FIGS. 31A to 31D are perspective views of a point-of-sale system,showing the countertop base unit of FIG. 15C supported on a horizontalcountertop surface and operably connected to an electronic cashregister, with the automatic hand-supportable bar code symbol readingdevice of FIG. 1 being used in its hand-held short-range mode ofoperation;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a point-of-sale station according tothe present invention, showing the countertop base unit of FIG. 15Cpivotally supported above a horizontal counter surface by way of apedestal base mounted under an electronic cash register, and theautomatic hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device of FIG. 1received in the base unit while being used in its automatic "hands-free"long-range mode of operation; and

FIGS. 33A and 33B are perspective views of a point-of-sale stationaccording to the present invention, showing the countertop base unit ofFIG. 15C pivotally supported above a horizontal counter surface by wayof a pedestal base, and the automatic hand-supportable bar code symbolreading device being used in its automatic "hands-on" short range modeof operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENTINVENTION

In FIGS. 1 to 6D, four different embodiments of the automatichand-supportable bar code symbol reading system of the present inventionare shown. In FIGS. 1 to 3A, the first embodiment of the automatic barcode symbol reading system is illustrated. In FIGS. 4 to 4B, the secondembodiment of the automatic bar code symbol reading system isillustrated. In FIGS. 5 to 5C, the third embodiment of the automatic barcode symbol reading system is illustrated. In FIGS. 6A to 6D, the fourthembodiment of the automatic bar code symbol reading system isillustrated. In each of these systems, the hand-supportable bar codesymbol reading device includes the automatic bar code symbol readingengine of the present invention shown in FIGS. 7A to 7F andschematically illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 9, in particular. The operationof these embodiments of the automatic bar code symbol reading device ofthe present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to14.

As there are numerous possible embodiments of the automatic bar codesymbol reading device of the present invention, there are also numerouspossible embodiments of the base unit of the present invention. Forexemplary purposes only, four illustrative embodiments of the base unitare shown in FIGS. 15A to 26. In FIGS. 15A to 17, the first embodimentof the base unit is illustrated. In FIGS. 18A to 20D, the secondembodiment of the base unit is illustrated. In FIGS. 21A to 23, thethird embodiment of the base unit is illustrated. In FIGS. 24A to 26,the fourth embodiment of the base unit is illustrated. In FIGS. 27 to30, the fifth embodiment of the base unit is illustrated. Each of theseillustrative embodiments of the present invention will be described ingreat detail hereinafter to enable one with ordinary skill in the art topractice the same in diverse user environments.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, automatic bar code symbol reading system 1comprises an automatic (i.e., triggerless) portable bar code (symbol)reading device 2 operably associated with a base unit 3 having a scannersupport stand 4. Bar code symbol reading device 2 is operably connectedwith its the base unit 3 by way of a one way electromagnetic link 5 thatis momentarily created between bar code symbol reading device 2 and itsmated base unit 3 after the successful reading of each bar code symbolby the bar code symbol reading device. Operable interconnection betweenthe base unit and a host system (e.g., electronic cash register system,data collection device, etc.) 6 is achieved by a flexible multiwirecommunications cable 7 extending from the base unit and plugged directlyinto the said data-input communications port of the host computer system6. In the illustrative embodiment, electrical power from a low voltagedirect current (DC) power supply (not shown) is provided to the baseunit by way of a flexible power cable 8. Notably, this DC power supplycan be realized in host computer system 6 or as a separate DC powersupply adapter pluggable into a conventional 3-prong electrical socket.As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, a rechargeablebattery power supply unit is contained with bar code symbol readingdevice 2 in order to energize the electrical and electro-opticalcomponents within the device.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 through 1C, scanner support stand 4 isparticularly adapted for receiving and supporting portable bar codesymbol reading device 2 in a selected position without user support,thus providing a stationary, automatic hands-free mode of operation. Ingeneral, portable bar code reading device 2 includes an ultra-lightweight hand-supportable housing 9 having a contoured head portion 9A anda handle portion 9B. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter,head portion 9A encloses electro-optical components which are used togenerate and project a visible laser beam 10 through a lighttransmissive window 11 in housing head portion 9A, and to repeatedlyscan the projected laser beam across a scan field 12 defined external tothe hand-supportable housing.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 1C, the scanner support stand portion3 includes a support frame which comprises a base portion 13A, a headportion support structure 13B, handle portion support structure 13C anda finger accommodating recess 13D.- As shown, base portion 13A has alongitudinal extent and is adapted for selective positioning withrespect to a support surface, e.g., countertop surface, counter wallsurface, etc. Head portion support structure 13B is connected to baseportion 13A, for receiving and supporting the head portion of bar codesymbol reading device 2. Similarly, handle portion support structure 13Cis connected to base portion 13A, for receiving and supporting thehandle portion of the code symbol reading device. In order that theuser's hand can completely grasp the handle portion of thehand-supportable bar code reading device, (i.e., prior to removing itoff and away from the scanner support stand), finger accommodatingrecess 13D is disposed between head and handle portion supportstructures 13B and 13C and above base portion 13A of the support frame.In this way, finger accommodating recess 13D is laterally accessible sothat when the head and handle portions 9A and 9B are received within andsupported by head portion support structure and handle portion supportstructure, respectively, the fingers of a user's hand can be easilyinserted through finger accommodating recess 13D and completely encirclethe handle portion of the hand-supportable device.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 2B in particular, head portion 9Acontinuously extends into contoured handle portion 9B at an obtuse angleα which, in the illustrative embodiment, is about 146 degrees. It isunderstood, however, that in other embodiments obtuse angle α may be inthe range of about 135 to about 180 degrees. As this ergonomic housingdesign is sculptured (i.e., form-fitted) to the human hand, automatichands-on scanning is rendered as easy and effortless as waving oneshand. Also, this ergonomic housing design eliminates the risks ofmusculoskeletal disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, which canresult from repeated biomechanical stress commonly associated withpointing prior art gun-shaped scanners at bar code symbols, squeezing atrigger to activate the laser scanning beam, and then releasing thetrigger.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 3A, the head portion of housing 9 haslight transmission aperture 11 formed in upper portion of front panel14A, to permit visible laser light to exit and enter the housing, aswill be described in greater detail hereinafter. The lower portion offront panel 14B is optically opaque except at optical wavelengths overthe infra-red (IR) region of the electromagnetic spectrums, as are allother surfaces of the hand supportable housing.

As best shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the automatic bar code symbol readingengine 18 of the present invention is securely mounted within the headportion of hand-supportable housing 9, while a printed circuit board 19and a rechargeable battery supply unit 20 are mounted within the handleportion of the hand-supportable housing. As will be described in greaterdetail hereinafter, the data packet transmission circuit of the presentinvention is realized on PC board 19 and is operably connected to barcode symbol reading engine 18 by way of a first flexible wire harness21, while electrical power is supplied from rechargeable battery 20 tothe data packet transmission circuit and the bar code symbol readingengine by way of a second flexible wire harness 22. As shown, atransmitting antenna 23 is operably connected to the data packettransmission circuit on PC board 19 and is mounted withinhand-supportable housing 9 for transmission of a data packet modulatedRF carrier signal. The structure and the functionalities of theautomatic bar code symbol reading engine will be described in greaterdetail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 7A to 14.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 4B, the second illustrative embodiment of the barcode symbol reading device, indicated by reference numeral 25 comprisesa wrist-mountable housing 26 having a head portion 26A with a lighttransmission window 27, and a tail portion 26B that is hingedlyconnected to the head portion 26B by way of a hinge mechanism 28. Asshown, housing tail portion 26B is mountable to the wrist of its user byway of a wrist band or strap 35 that may be made from one or moredifferent types of material. Also, an elastic gasket 29 is disposedabout the physical interface of the housing head portion and the housingtail portion in order to seal off the housing interior fromenvironmental debris, such as dust and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, an automatic bar code symbol reading engine18 is mounted within the head portion of the housing 26A, whereas asmall PC board 30 and a miniature rechargeable battery supply unit 31are mounted within the tail portion of the housing 26B. The data packettransmission circuit of the present invention is realized on PC board30. Electrical power is provided from the battery supply unit 31 to PCboard 30 by way of a first flexible wire harness 32, and from PC board30 to bar code symbol reading engine 18 by way of a second flexible wireharness 33, as shown. In order to selectively connect and disconnect theflow of electrical power from PC board 30 to bar code symbol readingengine 18, a rotatable switch 34 associated with hinge mechanism 28 isconnected in series with the electrical power lines extending along thesecond wire harness. In this way, when housing head portion 26A andhousing tail portion 26B are both configured to extend in the same planeas shown in FIG. 4A, switch 34 is closed and electrical power ispermitted to flow from PC board 30 to the bar code symbol readingengine. When the housing head portion and housing tail portion areconfigured in slightly different planes, as shown in FIG. 4B, thenswitch 34 is opened and electrical power is prevented from flowing fromPC board 30 to the bar code symbol reading engine.

In general, bar code symbol reading device 25 can be used in conjunctionwith any of the base units of the present invention. However, in thepreferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4, bar code symbol reading device 25is used in conjunction with portable data collection base unit 37 inorder to receive data packets that have been transmitted by the bar codesymbol reading device upon the successful reading of each bar codesymbol. The method of data packet transmission between the bar codesymbol reading device and the portable base unit, will be described indetail hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5D, the third illustrative embodiment ofthe bar code symbol reading device of the present invention indicated byreference numeral 40, comprises a U-shaped wrist-mountable housing 41having an upper housing portion 41A, a lower housing portion 41B, and aC-shaped housing portion 41C connecting the upper and lower housingportions, as shown. In the illustrative embodiment, each of thesehousing portions has a hollow interior of volumetric expanse which islaterally accessible by a side wall opening 42 shown in FIG. 5A that istypically closed off by a U-shaped side panel 43 that snap fits overside wall opening 42. As shown, the front side wall of the upper portionof the housing has a light aperture window 44 through which laser lightis permitted to pass to and from a bar code symbol reading engine 18mounted within the interior of the upper portion of the U-shapedhousing. A small PC board 45, on which the data packet transmissioncircuit is realized, is mounted within the interior of the C-shapedportion of the housing along with transmitting antenna 23, while arechargeable battery power supply unit 46 is mounted within the interiorof the lower portion of the housing, as shown in FIG. 5A. Electricalpower is provided from battery supply unit 46 to PC board 45 by way of afirst flexible wire harness 48, and from PC board 45 to the bar codesymbol reading engine by way of a second flexible wire harness 47. Asshown, a first passageway 49 is provided between the interior volumewithin the upper housing portion and the C-shaped housing portion inorder to permit wire harness 47 to extend between PC Board 45 and thebar code symbol reading engine 18. Similarly, a second passageway 50 isprovided between the lower housing portion and the C-shaped housingportion in order to permit wire harness 48 to extend between the batterysupply unit 46 to PC board 45.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a flexible strap 51 extends from the bottom of thefront panel of the upper portion of the housing and has a piece ofhook-type material 52 attached to the free end portion thereof. A pieceof loop-type material 53 is securely affixed to the bottom side of thelower portion of the housing. With such an arrangement, the free end ofstrap 51 can be fastened to the bottom side of the lower portion of thehousing, and thus securely attach the housing to the wrist of the user.Foam or cushioning material 54 can be used to line the interior surfacesof the housing in order to comfortably mount bar code reading device 40on the wrist of its user.

In FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 5D three different wrist mounting arrangements areshown for bar code symbol reading device 40. As shown in FIG. 5B, thelaser scan and object detection fields extend laterally transverse tothe pointing direction of the user's hand on which the bar code symbolreading device is mounted. With this laser scanning arrangement, theuser reads a bar code symbol 55 on an object by either presenting thebar code symbol to the light transmission window of the bar code symbolreading device, or by moving the light transmission window of the barcode symbol reading device such that the laser scanning beam projectsacross the bar code symbol to be read. This scanning arrangement isadvantageous in various applications where the user desires to read abar code symbol on a detected object that is not located along thenatural pointing direction of the user's hand.

As shown in FIG. 5C, the laser scan and object detection fields extendupwardly transverse to the pointing direction of the user's hand onwhich the bar code symbol reading device is mounted. This scanningarrangement is advantageous in various applications where the userdesires to read a bar code symbol 55 on a detected object 56 that is notlocated along the natural pointing direction of the user's hand orlaterally disposed thereto, as in FIG. 5B. With this alternativemounting arrangement, the user reads a bar code symbol by presenting thebar code symbol on the object to the object bearing the bar code symbol.

As shown in FIG. 5D, the laser scan and object detection fields extenddownwardly transverse to toward the pointing direction of the user'shand on which the bar code symbol reading device is mounted. Thisscanning arrangement is advantageous in various applications where theuser desires to read a bar code symbol 55 on a detected object 56 thatis not located along the pointing direction of the user's hand orlaterally disposed thereto, as in FIG. 5B. With this alternativemounting arrangement, the user reads a bar code symbol by presenting thebar code symbol on the object to light transmission window of the barcode symbol reading device.

In general, bar code symbol reading device 40 can be used in conjunctionwith any one of the base units of the present invention. However, in thepreferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, bar code symbol reading device 40is used in conjunction with portable computer system 364, equipped withPCMCIA-card base unit 360. As will be described in greater detailhereinafter, PCMCIA-card base unit 360 is capable of receiving datapackets transmitted from device 40 upon the successful reading of eachbar code symbol. The method of data packet transmission and receptionbetween bar code symbol reading device 40 and base unit 360 will bedescribed in detail hereinafter.

In FIGS. 6A to 6D, another embodiment of the bar code symbol readingsystem of the present invention is shown. In general, bar code symbolreading system 60 comprises a base unit 61 operably connected to a barcode symbol printing engine 62, and a portable automatic bar code symbolreading device 63. As shown, system 60 is interfaced with a hostcomputer system (e.g., desk-top computer) 64 by way of a serial datacommunications cable 65. An electrical power signal is provided to thebase unit by way of power cable 66, and is supplied to a primarytransformer 67, by way of PC board 68 and wires 69. As in the otherdescribed embodiments of the invention, the function of primaryinductive coil 67 is to inductively transfer electrical power to arechargeable battery 70 contained within the compact housing 71 of thebar code reading device when the base portion thereof is placed withinmatched recess 72 formed in the top portion of housing 73. Bar codesymbol printing engine 62 is provided so that the user can easily printbar code symbols on adhesive labels or the like, as desired, using aconventional bar code application program executed by the processor inthe host computer system and a suitable print driver program executed bythe processor within the base unit. The internal structure andfunctionalities of base unit 61 will be described in greater detailhereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the compact housing 71 of bar code symbol readingdevice has a wedge-like geometry when observed from its side view and anoval-like geometry when observed along its plan view. As shown in FIGS.6A to 6D, a large eccentrically located "viewing aperture" 75 is formedthrough the entire housing of the device. As best illustrated in FIG.6D, the function of the viewing aperture is to permit the user toencircle a bar code symbol 76 within the viewing aperture while the barcode symbol is being viewed along the line of sight 77 of the user. Asshown in FIG. 6B, bar code symbol reading device 18 is disposed at anangle of about 45 to 60 degrees from the planer base of the housing. APC board 78 supporting the data packet transmission circuit of thepresent invention and the like is disposed below the engine and aboverechargeable battery unit 70. As such, the laser scanning plane 79projected from light transmission window 80 in housing 71 bisects theoval opening formed through the base of the housing, as shown. Thispermits the user to easily align the visible laser beam across the barcode symbol encircled within and along the viewing window of the barcode symbol reading device. Thus, to read a bar code symbol, all theuser has to do is encircle the bar code symbol to be read through theviewing aperture of the device, align the projected visible laser beamwith encircled bar code symbol, and automatically the bar code symbol isdetected, scanned, and decoded by the bar code symbol reading engine 18,and the produced symbol character data is automatically transmitted tothe receiver circuitry in the base unit. When the transmitted symbolcharacter data is received by the base unit and retransmitted to thehost computer system, an acoustical acknowledgement signal S_(ACK) isemitted to the ambient environment for the user to hear. Thereafter, theuser may leave the bar code symbol reading device to rest anywhere onthe desk top, or may place it within recess 72 in order to automaticallyrecharge the battery unit within the bar code symbol reading device.

When using any of the bar code symbol reading devices of the presentinvention in commercial environments, such as retail stores, thewireless nature of the bar code symbol reader/base unit interfacepermits the operator thereof to accidently or deliberately walk off withthe bar code symbol reading device. This could have serious financialconsequences which could prevent commercially successful utilization ofthe system in such operating environments. In the illustrativeembodiments, this problem is solved by providing each bar code symbolreader with an electrically-passive tuned resonant circuit 500 (i.e.,target), realized on an ultra-thin adhesive label 501 affixed to eitherthe exterior or interior of the hand supportable housing. The tunedresonant circuit 500 is identical to those used on products such aslibrary books, compact discs, and other valuable goods sold in retailoutlets. When the bar code symbol reader is moved through the exit doorof the store, the tuned resonant circuit 500 absorbs energy from themagnetic field produced by magnetic field generation panels 502 and 503installed of an electronic article surveillance system 504 installed atthe store exit. When a bar code symbol reader bearing tuned resonantcircuit 500 is moved through the magnetic interrogation field producedby panels 502 and 503, the tuned resonant circuit absorbs power from themagnetic field and the corresponding current fluctuation is detected bycurrent sensing circuitry which triggers an audible alarm 505, notifyingstore management that the bar code symbol reader has been removed fromthe store without authorization. Various types of targets, interrogationfield panels and electronic current sensing circuitry may be used topractice this aspect of the present invention. Suitable anti-theftdetection (or electronic article surveillance) systems for practicingthis aspect of the present invention can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,870,391 to Cooper; 4,751,500 to Minasy, et al.; and 4,684,930 toMinasy, et al., which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety. This method provides an inexpensive way of securing bar codesymbol scanning devices, and is less expensive and much simpler thanproviding a signal receiver within the bar code symbol scanner itself.

Having described the four illustrative embodiments of the bar codesymbol reading device hereof, it is appropriate at this juncture todescribe in greater detail the laser scan and object detection fieldsthereof.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6C in particular, each embodiment ofthe bar code symbol reading device generates from its bar code symbolreading engine, two different types of fields external to itshand-supportable housing. As explained below, these fields function tocarry out a novel bar code symbol reading process according to theprinciples of the present invention. The first field, referred to as the"object detection field", indicated in FIG. 2 by broken and dotted lines15, is provided external to the housing for detecting energy reflectedoff an object (bearing a bar code symbol) located in the objectdetection field. The second field, referred to as the "scan field", hasat least one laser beam scanning plane 10, as shown in FIG. 2, and isprovided external to the housing for scanning a bar code symbol on theobject in the object detection field. In the preferred embodiment, barcode symbol scanning is achieved using a visible laser beam which, afterreflecting off the bar code symbol in the scan field, produces laserscan data that is collected for the purpose of automatically detectingthe bar code symbol and subsequently reading (i.e., scanning anddecoding) the same.

In general, detected energy reflected from an object during objectdetection can be optical radiation or acoustical energy, either sensibleor non-sensible by the user, and may be either generated from theautomatic bar code reading device or an external ambient source.However, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, theprovision of such energy is preferably achieved by transmitting a widebeam of pulsed infrared (IR) light away from transmission aperture 11,in a direction substantially parallel to longitudinal axis 16 of thehand-supportable housing. In the preferred embodiment, the objectdetection field, from which such reflected energy is collected, isdesigned to have a narrowly diverging pencil-like geometry ofthree-dimensional volumetric expanse, which is spatially coincident withat least a portion of the transmitted infrared light beam. This featureof the present invention ensures that an object residing within theobject detection field will be illuminated by the infrared light beam,and that infrared light reflected therefrom will be directed generallytowards the transmission aperture of the housing where it can beautomatically detected to indicate the presence of the object within theobject detection field. In response, a visible laser beam isautomatically generated within the interior of the bar code symbolreading engine, projected through the light transmission aperture of thehousing and repeatedly scanned across the scan field, within which atleast a portion of the detected object lies. At least a portion of thescanned laser light beam will be scattered and reflected off the objectand directed back towards and through light transmissive window 11 forcollection and detection within the interior of the bar code symbolreading engine, and subsequently processed in a manner which will bedescribed in detail hereinafter.

To ensure that the user can quickly align the visible laser beam withthe bar code symbol on the detected object, the object detection fieldis designed to spatially encompass at least a portion of the scan fieldalong the operative scanning range of the device, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 3A, for the first illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention. This structural feature of the present invention provides theuser with an increased degree of control, as once an object is detected,minimal time will be required by the user to point the visible laserbeam towards the bar code symbol for scanning. In effect, the laser beampointing efficiency of the device is markedly improved during theautomatic bar code reading process, as it is significantly easier forthe user to align the laser beam across the bar code symbol upon objectdetection.

As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7F, the automatic bar code symbol reading engine18 of the present invention contains a number of electronic,electro-optical and optical components arranged in a strategic mannerwithin a miniature housing 85. In the illustrative embodiment, theminiature housing has match-book size dimensions (e.g., a width alonglight transmission window of 1.8", a depth of 1.6", and a height of0.6") and an interior volume of about 1.7 cubic inches. As shown,housing 85 has an upper portion 85A and a lower portion 85B. Theunderside 86 of the upper housing portion 85A functions as an opticalbench (i.e., platform) upon which the majority of optical andelectro-optical components of the engine are mounted. The lower housingportion 85B supports two PC boards 87 and 88 on which the circuits ofFIG. 8 are realized using surface-mount componentry and like technologyknown in the art. In order to permit the laser beam produced withinhousing 85 to exit the housing and to allow reflected laser light enterthe same for detection, a first light transmission aperture 89 isprovided in the front side panel of the upper housing portion 85A. Inorder to permit IR light to exit and enter the housing, a second lighttransmission aperture 90 is formed in the front side panel of the lowerhousing portion 85B, as shown. To permit flexible wire harness 21, 28 or47 (between the bar code symbol reading engine and the data packettransmission circuit on the PC board) to interconnect with the circuitryon PC board 88 by way of a conventional connector 91, an input/outputaperture 92 is formed in the rear side panel of the lower housingportion 608, as shown. With PC boards 87 and 88 installed within theinterior 93 of the lower housing portion, as shown in FIG. 7A, the upperhousing is snap-fitted with the lower housing portion 85B by way of tabs94 that engage against the interior surfaces of the side panels of thelower housing portion 85B. Additional details regarding the opticallayout and construction details of the preferred embodiment of bar codereading engine 18, will be described hereinafter.

In FIG. 7G, an alternative embodiment of the miniature automatic barcode symbol reading engine 18' is shown. As illustrated, this embodimentof the device further includes PC board 45 (shown in FIG. 5A) mountedbetween PC boards 87 and 88, contained within match-box size housing 60.With data transmission circuit 121 realized on PC board 45, all that isrequired to operate automatic bar code symbol reading engine 18' is asupply of low voltage D.C. power, which can be provided by attaching asubminiature battery pack onto the end portion, bottom portion, topportion, or side portion of the housing 60. The transmitting antenna 23,connected to PC board 45, is mounted onto the exterior of housing 60 andthe produced output from this embodiment of the bar code symbol readingengine is a RF carrier signal modulated by a serial data streamrepresentative of the data packet group produced by the data packettransmission circuit in response to the successful reading of a bar codesymbol. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the batterypack may be physically incorporated within the interior of the housingmodified in dimensions to accommodate the dimensions of the batterysupply, and battery power recharging circuitry used in recharging thesame.

As shown in FIG. 8, automatic bar code reading engine 18 is a systemcomprising a number of cooperating components, namely: a system overridesignal detection circuit 100 for detecting the production of a systemoverride signal and producing in the presence thereof control activationsignal A₀ =1; a primary oscillator circuit 101 for producing a primaryclock signal CLK for use by the system override signal detection circuitand object detection circuit 107; a first RC timing network 102 forsetting the oscillation frequency of the primary oscillator circuit;means (e.g., Hall-effect sensor) 103 for producing a system overridesignal; first control means 104, realized as a first control circuit C₁,for performing localized system control functions; a second RC timingnetwork 105 for setting a timer T₁ in control circuit C₁ ; means (e.g.,an object sensing circuit 106 and an object detection circuit 107) forproducing a first activation control signal A₁ =1 upon the detection ofan object bearing a bar code in at least a portion of the objectdetection field; a laser beam scanning mechanism 108 for producing andscanning a visible laser beam across the bar code symbol on the detectedobject; photoreceiving circuit 109 for detecting laser light reflectedoff the scanned bar code symbol and producing an electrical signal D₁indicative of the detected intensity; a analog-to-digital (A/D)conversion circuit 110 for converting analog scan data signal D₁ into acorresponding digital scan data signal D₂ ; a bar code presencedetection circuit 111 for processing digital scan data signal D₂ inorder to automatically detect the digital data pattern of a bar codesymbol on the detected object and produce control activation signal A₂=1; a third RC timing network 112 for setting a timer T_(BCD) in the barcode symbol detection circuit; second control means 113, realized as asecond control circuit C₂, for performing local system controloperations in response to the detection of the bar code symbol; thirdcontrol means 114, realized as third control module C₃ ; a rangeselection circuit 115 for supplying range selection signals to theobject detection circuit; second control circuit C₂ and third controlmodule C₃ ; timers T₂, T₃, and T₄ identified by reference numerals 116,117 and 118, respectively; a symbol decoding module 119 for processingdigital scan data signal D₂ so as to determine the data represented bythe detected bar code symbol, generate symbol character datarepresentative thereof, and produce activation control signal A₃ for useby third control module C₃ ; a data packet synthesis module 120 forsynthesizing a group of formatted data packets for transmission to itsmated base unit; and a data packet transmission circuit 121 fortransmitting the group of data packets synthesized by the data packetsynthesis module. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter,second control circuit C₂ is capable of "overriding" (i.e., inhibitand/or enable) first control circuit C₁, whereas third control module C₃is capable of overriding first and second control circuits C₁ and C₂,respectively. As shown in FIG. 8, such control override functions arecarried out by the generation of control override signals (i.e., C₂ /C₁,C₃ /C₂ and C₃ /C₁) transmitted between respective control structures.Owing to the unique architecture of the control subsystem hereof, theautomatic bar code symbol reading device of the present invention iscapable of versatile performance and ultra-low power operation. Thestructure, function and advantages of this control subsystemarchitecture will become apparent hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 8, electrical power is provided to the components ofthe bar code reading device by battery power supply unit (20) containedwithin the housing of the device. In the illustrative embodiment, thebattery power supply unit is realized as a power supply distributioncircuit 125 fed preferably by replaceable or rechargeable batteries 126.In the case of rechargeable batteries, a secondary inductive coil 127,bridge rectifier 128 and voltage regulation circuit 129 are containedwithin the hand-supportable housing, and configured as shown in FIG. 8.The function of second inductive coil 128 is to establish anelectromagnetic coupling with the primary inductive coil contained inthe base unit associated with the bar code reading device whenever thedevice is supported in the recharging portion of the base unit. In thisconfiguration, electrical power is inductively transferred from theprimary inductive coil in the base unit to secondary inductive coil 127,rectified by bridge rectifier 128, and filtered by voltage regulationcircuit 129 to provide a regulated DC power supply for rechargingrechargeable batteries 126. In addition, an externally accessible ON/OFFpower switch 130 or functionally equivalent device is provided in seriesbetween battery supply unit 126 and power distribution circuitry 125 soas to permit the user to selectively energize and deenergize the device,as desired or required. Range selection circuit 115 may include a manualswitch externally accessible to the housing, which the user can depressto select long or short-range modes of object detection, bar codepresence detection and/or bar code symbol reading. Alternatively, RangeSelection Circuit 115 can be activated to a particular range setting bysymbol decoding module 119. In this mode of operation, the range settingcan be set by decoding a bar code symbol predesignated to activate thelong or short range modes of detection, as the case may be.

In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, system overridesignal detection circuit 100, primary oscillator circuit 101, objectdetection circuit 107, first control circuit C₁, analog-to-digitalconversion circuit 110, bar code symbol detection circuit 111, andsecond control circuit C₂ are all realized on a single ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip 133 using microelectroniccircuit fabrication techniques known in the art. In the illustrativeembodiment, the ASIC chip and associated circuits for laser scanning andlight detection and processing functions, are mounted on PC board 87.Symbol decoding module 119, data packet synthesis module 120, timers T₂,T₃, T₄, and T₅ and third control module C₃ are realized using a singleprogrammable device, such as a microprocessor having accessible programand buffer memory, and external timing circuitry, collectively depictedby reference numeral 134 in FIG. 8. In the illustrative embodiment,these components and devices are mounted on PC board 88.

In the illustrative embodiment, when power switch 130 is engaged to itsON position, power from battery power unit 126 is provided to firstcontrol circuit C₁, system override detection circuit 100, primaryoscillator circuit 101 and IR object sensing circuit 106 and objectdetection circuit 107 so as to enable their operation, while onlybiasing voltages are provided to all other system components so thatthey are each initially disabled from operation. In accordance with theprinciples of the present invention, the consumption of electrical powerto all other system components occurs under the management of thecontrol architecture formed by the interaction of distributed controlcenters C₁, C₂ and C₃.

In some embodiments, it is desired to override (i.e., disable) theentire system from operation, such as when a hand-supportable bar codesymbol reading device is placed in a holster worn on the user's belt. Insuch instances, the bar code symbol reading device of the presentinvention can be simply disabled by activating the system overridesignal producing device (e.g., Hall-effect sensor in the presence of amagnetic field) 103 mounted within the hand-supportable housing. Asshown in FIG. 8A, system override signal detection circuit 100 comprisesAND gates 136 and 137, an invertor 138, an S-R latch circuit 139 and alogical driver 140, configured as shown. As illustrated in FIG. 8A, theclock oscillator signal CLK (i.e., a periodic pulsed signal) is providedas one input of AND gate 136, one input of AND gate 137, and the inputof logic driver 140. The system override signal SO from Hall-effectsensor 103 is provided to the input of invertor 138 and the second inputof AND gate 136. The output of invertor 138 is provided to the input ofAND gate 137. As shown, the output of AND gate 137 is provided to theRESET input of S-R latch 139, whereas the output of AND gate 136 isprovided to the SET input of S-R latch 139. The output of S-R latch 139is activation signal A₀ provided to first control circuit C₁, whereasthe output of logic driver 140 is the driver signal SO DR which is usedto drive (i.e., provide the supply voltage for) the Hall-effect sensor103 mounted within the hand-supportable housing.

As shown in FIG. 8, primary clock oscillator circuit 101 supplies aperiodic pulsed signal to both the system override signal detectioncircuit and the object detection circuit. In the illustrativeembodiment, the primary oscillation circuit is designed to operate at alow frequency (e.g., about 1.0 Khz) and a very low duty cycle (e.g,about 1.0%). The "ON" time for the system override signal producingmeans and the IR object sensing circuit is proportional to the dutycycle of the primary oscillation circuit. This feature allows forminimal operating current when the bar code symbol reading engine is inthe object detection mode and also when the system override signalproducing device is activated (i.e., produces a system override signal).

As shown in FIG. 8B, primary oscillation circuit 101 comprises aSchmidtt trigger 142, invertors 143 and 144, and a NMOS Field-EffectTransistor(FET) 145. As shown, the output of trigger 142 is connected tothe inputs of both invertors 143 and 144. The output of invertor 143produces clock signal CLK which is provided to system override signaldetection circuit 100 and object detection circuit 107. The primaryoscillation circuit is connected to first RC network 102 which comprisesresistors R₁ and R₂, and capacitor C₁ configured as shown in FIG. 8B.The function of the RC network 102 is to establish the duty cycle andthe oscillation period of the primary oscillator circuit. As shown, twotime constants (i.e., loads) are established by the network usingcapacitor C₁ and resistors R₁ and R₂. The RC combination of R₁ and C₁establishes the period of the oscillator. The ratio of the R₂ to R₁provides the duty cycle of the oscillator. The value of R₂ isapproximately 100 times smaller than R₁ to establish a 1.0% duty cycle.As shown in the timing diagram of FIG. 8C, the clock signal CLK remainslow while the V₁ 1 signal ramps up. This ramp up time is the time ittakes for the capacitor C₁ to charge through R₁. The clock signal CLKthen goes HIGH for the shorter discharge time of the capacitor throughR₂. By adjusting the duty cycle (i.e., increasing or decreasing thevalue of resistor R₂), the sensitivity of the object detection circuitcan be tuned such that it activates consistently at a specified distancefrom the light transmission window of the bar code symbol readingdevice.

In accordance with the present invention, the purpose of objectdetection circuit 107 is to produce a first control activation signal A₁=1 upon determining that an object (e.g., product, document, etc.) ispresent within the object detection field of the bar code symbol readingdevice, and thus at least a portion of the scan field thereof. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, the object detection circuit is activated (i.e.,enabled) by enabling signal E₀ supplied from first control circuit C₁,and the object detection circuit provides the first control circuit C₁with first control activation signal A₁ =1 when an object residing inthe scan field is detected. In the illustrative embodiment, an "active"technique of automatic object detection is employed, although it isunderstood that "passive" techniques may be used with acceptableresults. As shown in FIG. 8, the object detection means of the systemcomprises two major subcomponents, namely object sensing circuit 106 andobject detection circuit 107, both of which are locally controlled bycontrol circuit C₁. In the illustrative embodiment, object sensingcircuit comprises an IR LED 148 driven by an IR transmitter drivecircuit 149, and an IR phototransistor (or photodiode) 150 activated byan IR receive biasing circuit 151. As shown in FIGS. 7D and 7F, thesecomponents are arranged and mounted on PC board 87 so as to provide anobject detection field that spatially encompasses the laser scanningplane, as described above. As shown in FIG. 8, the object detectioncircuit 107 produces an enable signal IR DR which is provided to the IRtransmitter drive circuit 149. The signal produced from IRphototransistor 151, identified as IR REC, is provided as input signalto the object detection circuit 107 for signal processing in a mannerwhich will be described in detail below. In the illustrative embodiment,infrared LED 148 generates a 900 nanometer signal that is pulsed at therate of the primary oscillation circuit 101 (e.g., 1.0 KHZ) when theobject detection circuit is enabled by enable signal E₀ produced fromthe first control circuit C₁. Preferably, the duty cycle of the primaryoscillation circuit 101 is less than 1.0% in order to keep the averagecurrent consumption very low.

As shown in FIG. 7F, in particular, this pulsed optical signal istransmitted from infrared LED 148 to broadly illuminate the scan field.When an object is present within the object detection portion of thescan field, a reflected optical pulse signal is produced and focussedthrough focusing lens 153 onto photodiode 150. The function ofphotodiode 150 is to receive (i.e., sense) the reflected optical pulsesignal and, in response thereto, produce a current signal IR REC.

As shown in FIG. 8D, produced current signal IR REC is provided as inputto the current-to-voltage amplifier (e.g., transconductance amplifier)155 in the object detection circuit, and is converted into a voltagesignal Vo. Within the object detection circuit 107, the infra-red LEDdrive signal IR DR is produced as the output of AND gate 157, whoseinputs are enabling signal E₀ supplied from the first control circuit C₁and the pulsed clock signal CLK supplied from the primary oscillationcircuit 101.

As shown in FIG. 8D, enabling signal E₀ is also provided tocurrent-to-voltage amplifier circuit 155, and the output voltage signalfrom AND gate 157 is provided as the second input to the synchronoustransmitter/receiver circuit 156. Notably, the output voltage signalfrom AND gate 157 and the output voltage signal V₀ from thecurrent-to-voltage amplifier correspond to the IR pulse signal trainstransmitted from and received by object sensing circuit 106. Thefunction of the synchronous transmitter/receiver circuit is tocyclically compare the output voltage signal from AND gate 157 and theoutput voltage signal V₀ from the current-to-voltage amplifier, and ifthese voltage signals synchronously match each other for a minimum ofthree (3) consecutive cycles of the primary oscillation circuit 101,then synchronous transmitter/receiver circuit 156 produces as output, afirst control activation signal A₁ =1, indicative that an object ispresent in the scan field of the bar code symbol reading device.Conversely, whenever first control activation signal A₁ =0 is produced,then this condition indicates that an object is not present in the scanfield.

Alternatively, the automatic bar code reading device of the presentinvention can be readily adapted to sense ultrasonic energy reflectedoff an object present within the scan field. In such an alternativeembodiment, object sensing circuit 106 is realized as an ultrasonicenergy transmitting/receiving mechanism. In the housing of the bar codereading engine, ultrasonic energy is generated and transmitted forwardlyinto the scan field. Then, ultrasonic energy reflected off an objectwithin the object detection field is detected adjacent to thetransmission window using an ultrasonic energy detector that produces ananalog electrical signal (i.e., UE REC) indicative of the detectedintensity of received ultrasonic energy. Preferably, a focusing elementis disposed in front of the energy detector in order to effectivelymaximize the collection of ultrasonic energy reflected off objects inthe scan field. In such instances, the focusing element essentiallydetermines the geometrical characteristics of the object detection fieldof the device. Consequently, the energy focusing (i.e., collecting)characteristics of the focusing element will be selected to provide anobject detection field which spatially encompasses at least a portion ofthe scan field. The electrical signal produced from theultrasonic-energy based object sensing circuit is provided to objectdetection circuit 107 for processing in the manner described above.

In the illustrative embodiments, object detection circuit 107 isprovided with two different modes of detection, namely,. a long-rangemode of object detection and a short-range mode of object detection. Asshown in FIGS. 8 and 8D, these modes are set by range selection circuit115 using mode enable signal R₁. When induced into the long-range modeof object detection, object detection circuit 107 will generate firstcontrol activation signal A₁ =1 whenever an object has been detectedwithin the operative range of the object detection field, independent ofthe particular distance at which the object resides from thetransmissive window. When induced into the short-range mode of objectdetection, the object detection circuit will generate first activationcontrol signal A₁ =1 only when an object is detected at a distancewithin the short-range of the object detection field.

As schematically indicated in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the long-rangespecification for object detection is preferably preselected to be thefull or entire range of sensitivity provided by current-to-voltageamplifier (e.g., 0 to about 10 inches). Preferably, the short-rangespecification for object detection is preselected to be the reducedrange of sensitivity provided by the IR sensing circuit when mode enablesignal E_(IRT) =1 is provided to the desensitization port of amplifier155. In the illustrated embodiment, the short-range of object detectionis about 0 to about 3 inches or so to provide CCD-like scanneremulation. As will become apparent hereinafter, the inherently limiteddepth and width of field associated with the short-range mode of objectdetection prevents laser scanning mechanism 108 from flooding the scanfield with laser scanning light and thus inadvertently detectingundesired bar code symbols. Particular uses to which object detectionrange selection can be put, will be described in greater detailhereinafter with reference to FIGS. 27A to 29B in particular.

As shown in FIG. 8D, the sensitivity (i.e., gain) of current-to-voltageamplifier 155 is controlled by a sensitivity control signal E_(IRT)produced from range control signal generating circuit 158. In theillustrative embodiment, the sensitivity control signal E_(IRT) 160 isproduced by a resistance network whose values are selected using ananalog switch that is responsive to a range select signal R₁ produced byrange selection circuit 115. As such, the sensitivity of thecurrent-to-voltage amplifier is simply adjusted by selecting one of tworesistance values within the resistance network used to realize rangecontrol signal generating circuit 158. The short range mode of objectdetection is enabled by selecting a resistance value that produces anamplifier gain that is lower than that produced during the long-rangemode of object detection where detectable objects can reside furtheraway from the light transmission window of the bar code symbol readingdevice.

In general, first control logic block C₁ provides the first level ofsystem control. This control circuit activates the object detectioncircuit 107 by generating enable signal E₀ =1, it activates laser beamscanning circuit 108, photoreceiving circuit 109 and A/D conversioncircuit 110 by generating enable signal E₁ =1, and it activates bar codesymbol detection circuit 111 by generating enable signal E₂ =1. Inaddition, the first control circuit C₁ provides control lines andsignals in order to control these functions, and provides a systemoverride function for the low power standby mode of the bar code symbolreading engine. In the illustrative embodiment, the specific operationof first control circuit C₁ is dependent on the state of several sets ofinput signals (i.e., activation control signal A₀ and A₁, and overridesignals C₂ /C₁, C₃ /C₁ -1 and C₃ /C₁ -2) and an internally generateddigital timer signal B. A preferred logic implementation of the firstcontrol circuit C₁ is set forth in FIGS. 8E and 8F. The functionaldependencies among the digital signals in this circuit are representedby the Boolean logic expressions set forth in the Table of FIG. 8G, andtherefore are sufficient to uniquely characterize the operation of firstcontrol circuit C₁.

As shown in FIG. 8E, first control circuit comprises a pair of logicinvertors 161 and 162, an OR gate 163, a NAND gate 164, a NOR gate 165,an AND gate 166, and a digital timer circuit 167 which produces asoutput, a digital output signal B. As shown, digital timer circuit 167comprises a flip-flop circuit 170, a NOR gate 171, a clock dividecircuit 173, a comparator (i.e., differential) amplifier 172, and a NPNtransistor 174. As illustrated, activation control signal A₁ is providedto the CLK input of flip-flop 170 by way of invertor 161. The QNOToutput of the flip-flop is provided as one input to NOR gate 171,whereas the other input thereof is connected to the CLK input of clockdivide circuit 173 and the output of comparator amplifier 172. Theoutput of the NOR gate is connected to the base of transistor 174, whilethe emitter thereof is connected to electrical ground and the collectoris connected to the negative input of comparator amplifier 172 as wellas the second timing network 105, in a manner similar to theinterconnection of first timing network 102 to primary oscillationcircuit 101. Also, the divided clock output (i.e., CLK/2048) producedfrom clock divide circuit 173 is provided to the CL input of flip-flop170. As shown, the Q output of flip-flop 170 is connected to the reset(RST) input of the clock divide circuit 173 as well as to one input ofOR gate 163, one input of NOR gate 165, and one input of AND gate 166.Notably, the Q output of the flip-flop is the digital output signal Bindicated in each of the Boolean expressions set forth in the Table ofFIG. 8G.

As shown in FIG. 8E, enable signal A₀ from the system override signaldetection circuit 100 is provided as the second input to OR gate 163,and the output thereof is provided as input to NAND gate 164. Theoverride signal C₂ /C₁ from second control circuit C₂ is provided as theinput to invertor 162, whereas the output thereof is provided as thesecond input to AND gate 166.

The override signal C₃ /C₁ -1 from third control module C₃ is providedas the second input to NAND gate 164, whereas the output thereofproduces enable signal E₀ for activating the object detection circuit107. The override signal C₃ /C₁ -2 is provided to the second input toNOR gate 165, whereas the output thereof produces enable signal E₁ foractivating laser scanning and photoreceiving circuits 108 and 109 andA/D conversion circuit 110. The output of AND gate 166 produces enablesignal E₂ for activating bar code symbol detection circuit 111.

Referring to FIG. 8E, the operation of digital timer circuit will bedescribed. The output voltage of comparator amplifier 172 keepstransistor 174 in its non-conducting state (i.e., OFF), via NOR gate171, thus allowing the external RC network 105 to charge to capacity.When comparator input voltage Vx exceeds reference voltage VCC/2, thecomparator output voltage biases (i.e., switches ON) transistor 174 soas to begin discharging the RC timing network 105, until input voltageVx falls below reference voltage VCC/2 upon which the process repeats,thus generating a digital clock oscillation at the comparator output.The timing cycle of digital output signal B is initiated by a transitionon the activation control signal A₁ which toggles flip-flop 170. Thistoggling action sets the digital output signal B to its logical HIGHstate, resetting clock divide circuit 173 and starting the digital clockoscillator described above by toggling the Q output of flip-flop 170. Asshown in FIG. 8F, clock divide circuit 173 is constructed by cascadingeleven flip-flop circuits together in a conventional manner. Each stageof the clock divider circuit divides the input clock signal frequency bythe factor 2. Thus the clock divider circuit provides an overalldivision factor of 2048. When the clock output CLK/2048 toggles, theflip-flop circuit is cleared thus setting the digital signal B tological LOW until the next pulse of the activation control signal A₁.

As reflected in the Boolean expressions of FIG. 8G, the state of each ofthe enable signals E₀, E₁ and E₂ produced by the first control circuitC₁ is dependent on whether the bar code symbol reading system is in itsoverride state of operation. To better understand the operation ofcontrol circuit C₁, it is helpful to consider a few control strategiespreformed thereby.

In the override state of operation of the system, enable signal E₀ canbe unconditionally set to E₀ =0 by the third control circuit C₃ settingoverride signal C₃ /C₁ =0. Under such conditions, the object detectioncircuit is enabled. Also, when the system override signal detectioncircuit is activated (i.e., A₀ =1) or the laser scanning andphotoreceiving circuits activated (i.e., B=1) and override signal C₃ /C₁-1=1, then enable signal E₀ =1 and therefore the object detectioncircuit is automatically deactivated. The advantage of this controlstrategy is that it is generally not desirable to have both the laserscanning circuit 108 and photoreceiving circuit 109 and the objectsensing circuit 105 active at the same time, as the wavelength of theinfrared LED 148 typically falls within the optical input spectrum ofthe photoreceiving circuit 109. In addition, less power is consumed whenthe object detection circuit 107 is inactive (i.e., disabled).

As illustrated in FIG. 8, laser scanning circuit 108 comprises a lightsource 177 which, in general, may be any source of intense lightsuitably selected for maximizing the reflectivity from the objectbearing a bar code symbol. In the preferred embodiment, light source 177comprises a solid-state visible laser diode (VLD) which is driven by aconventional driver circuit 178. In the illustrative embodiment, thewavelength of visible laser light produced from the laser diode ispreferably about 670 nanometers. In order to repeatedly scan theproduced laser beam over the scan field (having a predetermined spatialextent in front the light transmission window), a planar scanning mirror179 is rapidly oscillated back and forth by a flipper or stepper motor180 driven by a conventional driver circuit 181, as shown. A stationarymirror 182 is mounted on the underside of housing portion 85A along anoptical path between laser diode 177 and planar mirror 179, in order todirect the laser beam from the laser diode to the oscillating planarmirror 179. To selectively activate both laser light source 177 andmotor 180, laser diode and scanning motor enable signal E₁ is providedas input to driver circuits 178 and 181. When enable signal E₁ is alogical "high" level (i.e., E₁ =1) a laser beam is generated andprojected through the light transmissive window, when the projectedlaser beam is repeatedly scanned across the scan field, and an opticalscan data signal is thereby produced off the object (and bar code)residing within the scan field. When laser diode and scanning motorenable signal E₁ is a logical "low" (i.e., E₁ =0), there is no laserbeam produced, projected, or scanned across the scan field.

When a bar code symbol is present on the detected object at the time ofscanning, the user visually aligns the visible laser beam across the barcode symbol and incident laser light on the bar code will be scatteredand reflected. This scattering/ reflection process produces a laserlight return signal of variable intensity which represents a spatialvariation of light reflectivity characteristic of the pattern of barsand spaces comprising the bar code symbol. Photoreceiving circuit 109detects at least a portion of the reflected laser light of variableintensity and produces an analog scan data signal D₁ indicative of thedetected light intensity. In the illustrative embodiment, photoreceivingcircuit 109 generally comprises a number of components, namely: laserlight collection optics (i.e., planar mirror 179 and focusing lens 184)for focusing reflected laser light for subsequent detection; aphotoreceiver 185 (e.g., a silicon photosensor) mounted onto PC board87, as shown in FIG. 7F, for detecting laser light focused by the lightcollection optics; and a frequency selective filter 186A, mounted infront of photoreceiver 185, for transmitting thereto only opticalradiation having wavelengths up to a small band above 670 nanometers.

In order to prevent optical radiation slightly below 670 nanometers frompassing through light transmission aperture 110 and entering thehousing, a light transmissive window realized as a plastic filter lens186B is installed over the light transmission aperture of the housing.This plastic filter lens has optical characteristics which transmit onlyoptical radiation from slightly below 670 nanometers. In this way, thecombination of plastic filter lens 186B at the transmission aperture andfrequency selective filter 186A before photoreceiver 185 cooperate toform a narrow band-pass optical filter having a center frequency f_(c)=670 nanometers. By permitting only optical radiation associated withthe visible laser beam to enter the housing, this optical arrangementprovides improved signal-to-noise ratio for detected scan data signalsD₁.

In response to reflected laser light focused onto photoreceiver 185,photoreceiver 185 produces an analog electrical signal which isproportional to the intensity of the detected laser light. This analogsignal is subsequently amplified by preamplifier 187 to produce analogscan data signal D₁. In short, laser scanning circuit 108 andphotoreceiving circuit 109 cooperate to generate analog scan datasignals D₁ from the scan field, over time intervals specified by firstcontrol circuit C₁ during normal modes of operation, and by thirdcontrol module C₃ during "control override" modes of operation.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, analog scan data signal D₁ is provided asinput to A/D conversion circuit 110, shown in FIG. 8H. In a manner wellknown in the art, A/D conversion circuit 110 processes analog scan datasignal D₁ to provide a digital scan data signal D₂ which has a waveformthat resembles a pulse width modulated signal, where logical "1" signallevels represent spaces of the scanned bar code and logical "0" signallevels represent bars of the scanned bar code. A/D conversion circuit110 can be realized using any conventional A/D conversion techniqueswell known in the art. Digitized scan data signal D₂ is then provided asinput to bar code presence detection circuit 111 and symbol decodingmodule 119 for use in performing particular functions required duringthe bar code symbol reading process of the present invention.

The primary purpose of bar code presence detection circuit 111 is todetermine whether a bar code is present in or absent from the scanfield, over time intervals specified by first control circuit C₁ duringnormal modes of operation and by third control module C₃ during controloverride modes of operation. In the illustrative embodiment, bar codepresence detection circuit 111 indirectly detects the presence of a barcode in the scan field by detecting its bar code symbol "envelope". Inthe illustrative embodiment, a bar code symbol envelope is deemedpresent in the scan field upon detecting a corresponding digital pulsesequence in digital signal D₂ that A/D conversion circuit 110 produceswhen photoreceiving circuit 109 detects laser light reflected off a barcode symbol scanned by the laser beam produced by laser beam scanningcircuit 108. This digital pulse sequence detection process is achievedby counting the number of digital pulse transitions (i.e., falling pulseedges) that occur in digital scan data signal D₂ within a predeterminedtime period T₁ clocked by the bar code symbol detection circuit.According to the laws of physics governing the laser scanning operation,the number of digital (pulse-width modulated) pulses detectable atphotoreceiver 185 during time period T₁ is a function of the distance ofthe bar code from the light transmission window 111 at the time ofscanning. Thus a bar code symbol scanned at 6" from the lighttransmission window will produce a larger number of digital pulses(i.e., digital count) at photoreceiver 185 during time period T₁ thanwill the same bar code symbol scanned at 3" from the light transmissionwindow.

In the illustrative embodiment, the bar code symbol detection circuit111 is provided with the capacity to detect the presence of a bar codesymbol in either the long or short range portions of the scan field, asspecified in FIGS. 3 and 3A. This is achieved by counting the digitalpulse transitions present in digital scan signal D₂ within predeterminedtime period T₁ and producing second control activation signal A_(2S)(i.e., A_(2S) =1) when the counted number of pulse transitions equals orexceeds a first prespecified digital pulse transition countcorresponding to a bar code symbol scanned in the short range portion ofthe scan field, and producing second control activation signal A_(2L)(i.e., A_(2L) =1) when the counted number of pulse transitions equals orexceeds a second prespecified digital pulse transition countcorresponding to a bar code symbol scanned in the long range portion ofthe scan field. As shown in FIG. 8, both of these second controlactivation signals A_(2L) and A_(2S) are produced and provided as inputto second control circuit C₂. However, second control circuit C₂selectively provides (e.g., gates) the second control activation signalthat corresponds to range-mode of operation selected by the user. Whenthe long range mode of operation has been selected by range selectioncircuit 115, the device will automatically undergo a transition from barcode presence detection state to bar code symbol reading state uponreceiving control activation signal A_(2L) =1. Similarly, when the shortrange mode of operation has been selected by the range selection circuit115, the device will automatically undergo a transition from bar codepresence detection state to bar code symbol reading state upon receivingcontrol activation signal A_(2S) =1.

In the illustrative embodiment, bar code symbol presence detectioncircuit 111 comprises a digital pulse transition counter 190 forcounting digital pulse transitions during time period T₁, and a digitalclock circuit (i.e., T_(BCD) circuit) 191 for measuring (i.e., counting)time period T_(BCD) and producing a count reset signal CNT RESET at theend of each such time period, as shown in FIG. 8K. As shown in FIG. 8K,the function of digital clock circuit 191 is to provide a time periodT_(BCD) (i.e., time window subdivision) within which the bar code symboldetection circuit attempts, repeatedly during time period T₁, to detecta bar code symbol in the scan field. In the preferred embodiment,T_(BCD) is about 0.1 seconds, whereas T₁ is about 1.0 second. As shownin FIG. 8I, in order to establish such "bar code search" timesubintervals within time period T₁, the digital clock circuit 191generates the first count reset pulse signal CNT RESET upon thedetection of the first pulse transition in digital scan data signal D₂.The effect of this reset signal is to clear or reset the digital pulsetransition (falling edge) counter. Then at the end of each timesubinterval T_(BCD), digital clock signal 191 generates another countreset pulse CNT RESET to reset the digital pulse transition counter. Ifduring time window T₁, a sufficient number of pulse transitions insignal D₂ are counted over a subinterval T_(BCD), then either controlactivation signal A_(2L) or A_(2S) will be set to "1". In response tothe detection of this condition, second control circuit C₂ automaticallyenables control activation C₃ in order to initiate a transition from thebar code symbol detection state of operation to the bar code symbolreading state of operation.

As shown in FIG. 8I, digital pulse transition counter 191 is formed bywiring together a series of four flip-flop circuits 192 to 195, suchthat each flip flop divides the clock signal frequency of the previousstage by a factor of 2. As indicated in the drawing of FIG. 8I, the Qoutput of flip flops 192 to 194 represent the binary digits 2, 4, 8, and16 respectively, of a binary number (i.e., counting) system. As shown,enable signal E₂ from first control circuit C₁ is provided as input toNOR gate 197, while the second input thereto is the counter reset signalCNT RESET provided from the digital counter circuit 191. In order toreset or clear the pulse transition counter circuit 190 upon thegeneration of each CNT RESET pulse, the output of the NOR gate 197 isconnected to the clear line (CL) of each flip flop 192 to 195, as shown.

As illustrated in FIG. 8I, digital clock circuit 191 comprises aflip-flop circuit 198, a NOR gate 199, a clock divide circuit 200, acomparator 201, and a NPN transistor 202. As illustrated, digital scandata signal D₂ is directly provided to the CLK input of flip-flop 198.The QNOT output of the flip-flop is provided as one input to NOR gate199, whereas the Q output thereof is connected to the CLK input of clockdivide circuit 200 and the second input of NOR gate 197. The other inputof NOR gate 199 is connected to the input line CLK of clock dividecircuit 200 and to the output of comparator 201, as shown. The output ofthe NOR gate is connected to the base of transistor 202, while theemitter thereof is connected to electrical ground and the collector isconnected to the negative input of comparator 201 as well as to thethird timing network 112, in a manner similar to the interconnection ofthe first timing network 102 to primary oscillation circuit 101. Asshown in FIG. 8J, clock divide circuit 200 is realized as series of fiveflip-flops 200A to 200E wired together so as to divide digital clockinput signal CLOCK by 32, and be resettable by pulsing reset line RESETin a conventional manner.

When an object is detected in the scan field, first control circuit C₁produces enable signal E₂ =1 so as to enable digital pulse transitioncounter 190 for a time duration of T₁. As shown, the digital scan datasignal D₂ (representing the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code)drives the clock line of first flip flop 192, as well as the clock lineof flip flop 198 in the T_(BCD) timer circuit. The first pulsetransition in digital scan data signal D₂ starts digital timer circuit191. The production of each count reset pulse CNT RESET from digitaltimer circuit 191 automatically clears the digital pulse transitioncounter circuit 190, resetting it once again to count the number ofpulse transitions present in the incoming digital scan data signal D₂over a new time subinterval T_(BCD). The Q output corresponding to eightpulse transitions counted during time period T_(BCD), provides controlactivation signal A₂ S for use during the short range mode of operation.The Q output corresponding to sixteen pulse transitions counted duringtime period T_(BCD), provides control activation signal A₂ L for useduring the long range mode of operation. When the presence of a bar codein the scan field is detected, second activation control signal A_(L2)or A_(2S) is generated, third control circuit C₃ is activated and secondcontrol circuit C₂ is overridden by third control circuit C₃ through thetransmission of control override signals (i.e., C₃ /C₂ inhibit and C₃/C₁ enable signals) from the third control circuit C₃.

As illustrated in FIG. 8L, second control circuit C₂ is realized usinglogic circuitry consisting of NAND gates 205 to 208, invertors 209 and210, NOR gates 211 to 213, NAND gates 214 and 215, AND gate 216,configured together as shown. As shown, second control activationsignals A_(2S) and A_(2L) are provided to the first inputs of NAND gates214 and 215, respectively, whereas the outputs of NOR gates 211 and 212are provided to the second inputs of NAND gates 214 and 215respectively. The outputs of NAND gates 214 and 215 are provided to theinputs of AND gate 216 and the output thereof provides enable signal E₃for enabling third control module C₃.

As shown in FIG. 8L, the third control module C₃ provides overridesignals C₃ /C₂ -1 and C₃ /C₂ -2 to the first and second inputs of NANDgate 205 and to the first input of NAND gate 207 and the first input ofNAND gate 208, respectively. The range selection signal R produced fromrange selection circuit 115 is provided as input to NAND gate 206. Asshown, output of NAND gate 205 is provided as the second input to NANDgate 206. The output of NAND gate 206 is provided as the second input toNAND gate 207 and the second input to NAND gate 208. As shown in FIG.8L, the output of NAND gate 207 is provided as an input to NOR gate 211and invertor 209, whereas the output of NAND gate 208 is provided asinputs to NOR gates 211 and 212 and invertor 210. The output of invertor209 is provided as the other input to NOR gate 212 and one input to NORgate 213. The output of invertor 210 is provided as another input to NORgate 213, whereas the output thereof provides control override signal C₂/C₁. So configured, the combinational logic of the second controlcircuit C₂ maps its input signals to its output signals in accordancewith the logic table of FIG. 8M.

Upon entering the bar code symbol reading state, third control module C₃provides override control signal C₃ /C₁ to first control circuit C₁ andsecond control circuit C₂. In response to control signal C₃ /C₁, thefirst control circuit C₁ produces enable signal E₁ =1 which enablesscanning circuit, 109 photo-receiving circuit 109 and A/D conversioncircuit 110. In response to control signal C₃ /C₂, the second controlcircuit C₂ produces enable signal E₂ =0, which disables bar code symboldetector circuit 111. Thereafter, third control module C₃ producesenable signal E₄ to enable symbol decoding module 119. In response tothe production of such signals, the symbol decoding module decodeprocesses, scan line by scan line, the stream of digitized scan datacontained in signal D₂ in an attempt to decode the detected bar codesymbol within the second predetermined time period T₂ established andmonitored by the third control module C₃. If the symbol decoding module119 successfully decodes the detected bar code symbol within time periodT₂, then symbol character data D₃ (representative of the decoded barcode symbol and typically in ASCII code format) is produced. Thereuponsymbol decoding module 119 produces and provides the third controlactivation signal A₃ to the third control module C₃ in order to induce atransition from the bar code symbol reading state to the data packettransmission state. In response thereto, a two distinct events occur.First the third control module C₃ produces and provides enable signal E₅to data packet synthesis module 120. Secondly, symbol decoding module119 stores symbol character data D₃ in a memory buffer associated withdata packet synthesis module 120.

In the illustrated embodiment, symbol decoding module 119, data packetsynthesis module 120, and timers T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅ are each realizedusing programmed microprocessor and accessible memory 134. Similarly,third control module C₃ and the control functions which it performs atBlocks I to GG in FIGS. 13A and 13C, are realized as a programmingimplementation using techniques well known in the art.

The function of data packet synthesis module 120 is to use the producedsymbol character data to synthesize a group of data packets forsubsequent transmission to its mated base unit by way of data packettransmission circuit 121.

In the illustrative embodiment, each synthesized data packet isformatted as shown in FIG. 8N. In particular, each data packet in eachdata packet group comprises a number of data fields, namely: Start ofPacket Field 220 for containing a digital code indicating the beginningof the transmitted data packet; Transmitter Identification Number Field221 for containing a digital code representative of the Transmitting BarCode Symbol Reader; Data Packet Group Number Field 222 for containing adigital code (i.e., a first module number) assigned to each particulardata packet group being transmitted; Data Packet Transmission No. Field223 for containing a digital code (i.e., a second module number)assigned to each data packet in each data packet group beingtransmitted; Symbol Character Data Field 224 for containing digital coderepresentative of the symbol character data being transmitted to thebase unit; Error Correction Code Field 225 for containing a digitalerror correction code for use by the receiving base unit to determine iferror in data packet transmission has occurred; and End of Packet Fieldfor 226 for containing a digital code indicating the end of thetransmitted data packet.

After the data packet synthesis module synthesizes a group of datapackets as described above, the third control module C₃ provides enablesignal E₇ to data packet transmission circuit 121. As illustrated inFIG. 9, the data packet transmission circuit comprises a carrier signalgeneration circuit 230, a carrier signal frequency modulation circuit231, a power amplifier 232, a matching filter 233, and a quarterwave(λ/4) transmitting antenna element 234. The function of the carriersignal generation circuit 230 is to generate a carrier signal having afrequency in the RF region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In theillustrative embodiment, the carrier frequency is about 912 Mhz,although it is understood that this frequency may vary from oneembodiment of the present invention, to another embodiment thereof. Asthe carrier signal is being transmitted from transmitting antenna 234,frequency modulation circuitry 231 modulates the instantaneous frequencyof the carrier signal using the digital data sequence (i.e., digitaldata stream) 235 constituting the group of data packets synthesized bythe data packet synthesis module 120. The function of the poweramplifier is to amplify the power of the transmitted modulated carriersignal so that it may be received by a base unit of the presentinvention located within a predetermined data transmission range (e.g.,from about 0 to about 30 feet), illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 5A, and 6D,in particular.

In general, each base unit of the present invention performs a number offunctions. First, the base unit receives the modulated carrier signaltransmitted from a hand-supportable bar code symbol reading devicewithin the data reception range of the base unit. Secondly, the baseunit demodulates the received carrier signal to recover the data packetmodulated thereunto during signal transmission. Thirdly, the base unitanalyzes each of the recovered data packets to determine whether thereceived carrier signal was transmitted from a hand-supportable bar codesymbol reading device preassigned to the receiving base unit. Fourthly,the base unit recovers the symbol character data from at least one datapacket in a transmitted group of data packets, and ascertaining thereliability of the recovered symbol character data. Fifthly, the baseunit generates an acoustical acknowledgement signal S_(ACK) that can beaudibly perceived by the operator of the transmitting bar code symbolreading device while located in the data reception range of the baseunit. Finally, the base unit transmits the received symbol characterdata to a host computer system or like device. Each of these functionswill be described in greater detail during the detailed description ofthe Main System Control Routine set forth in FIGS. 13A to 13C.

In order to better understand the functions performed by the bar codesymbol reading device and base unit of the present invention, it will behelpful to first describe the principles underlying the datacommunication method of the present invention, and thereafter discussthe role that the base unit plays in carrying out this communicationmethod.

In a typical application of the present invention, a (resultant) systemof bar code symbol reading subsystems are installed in physicalproximity with each other. Typically each system is a point of sale(POS) station including a host computer system interfaced with a baseunit of the present invention and an automatic hand-supportable bar codesymbol reading device preassigned to one of the base units. To register(i.e., associate) each bar code symbol reading device with a preassignedbase unit, each bar code symbol reading device is preassigned a unique"Transmitter Identification Code" which is stored in a memory in theassigned base unit during a set-up procedure. In the illustrativeembodiment, the carrier frequency of the data packet transmitter in eachbar code symbol reading device is substantially the same for all barcode symbol reading devices in the resultant system. Also, the datapacket transmission range of each bar code symbol reading device will besubstantially greater than the distance between each bar code symbolreading device and a neighboring base unit to which the bar code symbolreading unit is not assigned. Consequently, under such operatingconditions, at any instance in time, any base station in the resultantsystem may simultaneously receive two or more packet modulated carriersignals which have been transmitted from two or more bar code symbolreading devices being used in the resultant system. These bar codesymbol reading devices may include the bar code symbol reading devicepreassigned to the particular base unit as well as neighboring bar codesymbol reading devices. Thus due to the principles of data packettransmission of present invention, there exists the possibility that anyparticular base unit may simultaneously receive two or more differentdata packets at any instant in time, thereby creating a "packetinterference" situation.

In order to ensure that each base unit in the resultant system iscapable of receiving at least one data packet from a data packet grouptransmitted by its preassigned bar code symbol reading device (i.e.,without risk of interference from neighboring bar code symbol readingdevice transmitters), the unique "data packet group" transmission schemeshown in FIG. 10 is employed. As shown, upon the successful reading of afirst bar code symbol and the production of its symbol character dataD₃, data packet synthesis module 120 aboard the bar code symbol readingdevice automatically produces a first (i.e., N=1) group of (three) datapackets, each having the packet format shown in FIG. 9. Thereafter, thedata packet transmission circuit 121 uses the digital data bit stream,representative of the synthesized data packet group, to modulate acarrier signal transmitted from the hand-supportable bar code symbolreading device.

In the illustrative example shown FIG. 10, only the second and thirddata packets of the group sent over the modulated carrier signal areshown as being received by the preassigned base unit. As shown in thisdrawing, the base unit transmits the recovered symbol character data D₃to its host computer system, upon receiving the second data packet inthe transmitted group of data packets. Thereafter, the base unitproduces an acoustical acknowledgement signal S_(ACK) of sufficientintensity that it can be easily heard by the operator of the bar codesymbol reading device that transmitted the received data packet. Thefunction of the acoustical acknowledgment signal is to provide theoperator with an audible acknowledgement that the symbol character dataD₃ (associated with the recently read bar code symbol) has been receivedby the base unit and transmitted to its host computer system forprocessing and or subsequent storage. Notably, while the third datapacket N₃ is also received by the base unit, the availableacknowledgement signal S_(ACK) and symbol character data transmission isnot produced as packet N₃ contains redundant information alreadyreceived by the second packet N₂ of the same group.

In the preferred embodiment, the pitch of the transmitted acousticalacknowledgement signal S_(ACK) is uniquely specified and assigned to aparticular bar code symbol reading unit. This way the operator of eachbar code symbol reading (sub)system can easily recognize (i.e., discern)the audible acoustical acknowledgement signal produced from the baseunit preassigned to his or her bar code symbol reading device. At thesame time, this pitch assignment scheme allows each operator to ignoreaudible acoustical acknowledgment signals produced from neighboring baseunits not mated with his or her portable bar code symbol reading device.If after reading a bar code symbol, the operator does not see the visual"good read" indication light on its device "flash" or "blink" andimmediately thereafter hear its preassigned acoustical acknowledgementsignal emanate from its base unit, then the operator is implicitlyinformed that the symbol character data of the read bar code symbol wasnot successfully received by the base unit. In response to such anevent, the operator simply rereads the bar code symbol and awaits tohear the acoustical acknowledgment signal emanating from the base unit.

Notably, it may even be desirable in some operating environments toproduce acoustical acknowledgement signals in the form of a uniqueseries of notes preassigned to a bar code symbol reading device and its"mated" base unit. The pitch or note sequence assigned to each matedbase unit and bar code symbol reading device can be stored in a memory(e.g., EPROM) realized in the base unit, and can be programmed at thetime of system set-up and modified as required. Preferably, each pitchand each note sequence is selected so that it can be readilydistinguished and recognized by the operator to which it is uniquelydirected.

Also shown in FIG. 10 is the case where the bar code symbol readingdevice reads a second bar code symbol and then transmits a second(N=2)group of data packets. However, due to interference only the third datapacket in the second transmitted group of data packets is received atthe respective base unit. Despite such group transmission errors (e.g.,due to channel corruption or nonradio transmissive obstructions), thebase unit as shown is nevertheless able to recover the transmittedsymbol character data. Upon receiving the third data packet, recoveringthe packaged symbol character data and transmitting the same to the hostcomputer system, the bar code symbol reading device generates anacoustical acknowledgement signal having a pitch or note sequence thatthe operator can hear and recognize as an indication that the datapacket reception was successful.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, the data packet transmission and reception scheme ofthe present invention is shown for the case of three station system. Inthe best case scenario shown in FIG. 11, the group of data packetstransmitted from each bar code symbol reading device is transmitted at atime when there are no neighboring bar code symbol reading devicestransmitting data packets. This case will occur most frequently, as thetotal transmission times for each group of data packets is selected tobe substantially smaller than the random time durations lapsingnaturally between adjacent data packet transmissions from neighboringbar code symbol reading devices. This fact is illustrated in FIG. 11, inwhich (i) a group of data packets from bar code reading device No. 1 aretransmitted between adjacent groups of data packet transmitted from barcode symbol reading devices Nos. 2, 3 and 4 without the occurrence ofdata packet interference (i.e., collision). In most instances, the timedelay between consecutive groups of data packets transmitted from anyparticular bar code symbol reading device, will be sufficient to permita neighboring bar code symbol reading device to transmit at least onedata packet to its base unit without the occurrence of data packetinterference.

In accordance with the data transmission scheme of the presentinvention, data packet interference is minimized by the random presenceof interference-free time slots, during which a transmitted data packetcan be received at its respective base unit without neighboring packetinterference. However, the present invention employs additional measuresto further reduce the likelihood of data packet interference. Suchmeasures are best appreciated when considering a high-density datapacket transmission environment, in which a number of closely situatedneighboring bar code symbol readers are each attempting to transmit agroup of data packets to its preassigned base unit. In general, suchoperating conditions would present a worst case scenario for the datapacket transmission scheme of the present invention.

In the worst case scenario shown in FIG. 12, each of the fourneighboring bar code symbol reading devices is assumed to consecutivelyread two bar code symbols and simultaneously begin the transmission ofthe first data packet in the first group of data packets correspondingto the first read bar code symbol. As mentioned above, each data packetis formatted essentially the same way, has substantially the same packetwidth, and is transmitted on a carrier signal having a frequency whichis substantially the same as all other carrier signals transmittedthroughout the system. In accordance with the principles of the presentinvention, the data packet transmission circuit 121 in each bar codesymbol reading device is preprogrammed to transmit adjacent data packetswith a different "time delay", as shown in FIG. 12. This condition isachieved throughout the resulting system by assigning a different PacketTime Delay to each having a different Transmitter Identification Number,and then programming the bar code symbol reading device with thepreassigned Packet Time Delay parameter. As illustrated in FIG. 12, thevalue of the Packet Time Delay parameter programmed in each bar codesymbol reading device is selected so that, when the neighboring bar codesymbol reading devices simultaneously transmit groups of data packets,each base unit in the resulting system is capable of receiving at leastone data packet (in a group thereof) that has been transmitted from itspreassigned bar code symbol reading device. In general, the data packetdelay scheme of the present invention involves selecting and programmingthe Packet Time Delay parameter in each bar code symbol reading deviceso that each base unit is periodically provided a vacant time slot,during which one transmitted data packet in each group thereof can bereceived free of "data packet interference", as shown in FIG. 12. Theadvantage of providing a packet time delay among the data packets ofeach transmitted group thereof is that rereading and retransmission ofbar code symbols is effectively minimized under the data packettransmission scheme of the present invention.

Having described the detailed structure and internal functions ofautomatic bar code symbol reading device of the present invention, theoperation of the control system thereof will now be described whilereferring to the system block diagram shown in FIG. 8 and control BlocksA to GG in FIGS. 13A to 13C.

Beginning at the START block of Main System Control Routine andproceeding to Block A of FIG. 13A, the bar code symbol reading system is"initialized". This initialization step involves activating systemoverride circuit 100, first control circuit C₁ and oscillator circuit101. It also involves deactivating (i.e., disabling): (i) all externalsystem components except the range selection circuit 115 and systemoverride signal producing means 103 (i.e., infrared sensing circuit 105,laser scanning circuit 108, and photoreceiving circuit 109); (ii) allsubcircuits aboard ASIC chip 133 not associated with the system overridecircuit 100, such as object detection circuit 107, A/D conversioncircuitry 110, second control circuit C₂ and bar code presence detectioncircuit 111; and (iii) third control module 114, symbol decoding module119 and data packet synthesis module 120. In addition, all timers T₁,T₂, T₃, T₄, and T₅ are reset to t=0.

Proceeding to Block B in FIG. 13A, the first control circuit C₁ checksto determine whether it has received control activation signal A₀ =1from system override detection circuit 100. If this signal is received,then the first control circuit C₁ returns to Block A. If controlactivation signal A₀ =1 is not received, then at Block C the firstcontrol circuit C₁ activates (i.e., enables) the object detectioncircuit by producing E₀. At Block D, the object detection circuitreceives either the long range mode selection signal or the short rangemode selection signal produced by the range selection circuit 115 andsets the appropriate sensitivity level of the circuit. At Block E, thefirst control circuit C₁ determines whether it has received controlactivation signal A₁ =1, indicating that an object has been detectedwithin the selected range of the scan field. If this control activationsignal is not received, then at Block F the first control circuit C₁determines whether its has received control activation signal A₀ =1. Ifthe first control circuit C₁ has received control activation signal A₀=1 then the control system returns to Block A in FIG. 13A, as shown. Ifthe first control circuit C₁ has not received control activation signalA₀ =1 then the control system returns to Block E, as shown.

If at Block E the first control circuit C₁ has received first controlactivation signal A₁ =1, then at Block G the first control circuit C₁(i) deactivates (i.e., disables) the object sensing circuit and theobject detection circuit using disabling signal E₀ =0, (ii) activates(i.e., enables) laser scanning circuit 108, photoreceiving circuit 109and A/D signal conversion circuit 110 using enable signal E₁ =1, (iii)activates bar code detection circuit 111 and second control circuit C₂using enable signal E₂ =1, and (iv) starts timer T₁ maintained in thefirst control circuit C₁. This permits the bar code symbol readingdevice to collect and analyze scan data signals for the purpose ofdetermining whether or not a bar code is within the scan field. If atBlock H the second control circuit C₂ does not receive controlactivation signal A_(2S) =1 or A_(2L) =1 from the bar code detectioncircuit within time period T₁, indicating that a bar code symbol isdetected in the selected range of the scan field, then the controlsystem returns to Block A thereby returning system control to the firstcontrol unit C₁, as shown in FIG. 13A. If at Block H the bar code symboldetection circuit 111 provides the second control circuit C₂ withcontrol activation signal A_(2S) =1 or A_(2L) =1, as the case may be,then second control circuit C₂ activates (i.e., enables) third controlmodule C₃ (i.e., microprocessor 134) using enable signal E₃ =1.

At Block J, the third control module C₃ polls (i.e., reads) theparameter R set by range selection circuit 115 and sets a range limitflag in the symbol decoding module 119. At Block K third control moduleC₃ activates the symbol decoding module 119 using enable signal E₄,resets and restarts timer T₂ permitting it to run for a secondpredetermined time period (e.g., 0<T₂ <1 second), and resets andrestarts timer T₃ permitting it to run for a third predetermined timeperiod (e.g., 0<T₃ <5 seconds). At Block L, the third control modulechecks to determine whether control activation signal A₃ =1 is receivedfrom the symbol decoding module 119 within T₂ =1 second, indicative thata bar code symbol has been successfully read (i.e., scanned and decoded)within the allotted time period. If control activation signal A₃ =1 isnot received within the time period T₂ =1 second, then at Block M thirdcontrol module C₃ checks to determine whether control activating signalA₂ =1 is received. If a bar code symbol is not detected, then thecontrol system returns to Block A, causing a state transition from barcode reading to object detection. However, if at Block M the thirdcontrol module C₃ receives control activation signal A₂ =1, indicativethat a bar code once again is within the scan field, then at Block N thethird control module C₃ checks to determine whether time period T₃ haselapsed. If it has, then the control system returns to Block A. If,however, time period 0≦T₃ ≦5 seconds has not elapsed, then at Block Kthe third control module C₃ resets and restarts timer T₂ to run onceagain for a time period 0≦T₂ ≦1 second, while T₃ continues to run. Inessence, this provides the device at least another opportunity to read abar code present within the scan field when the control system is atcontrol Block L. During typical bar code reading applications, thecontrol system may progress through the control loop defined by BlocksK-L-M-N-K several times before a bar code symbol in the scan field isread within the time period allotted by timer T₃.

Upon receiving control activation signal A₃ =1 from symbol decodingmodule 119, indicative that a bar code symbol has been successfullyread, the control system proceeds to Block O in FIG. 13B. At this stageof the system control process, the third control module C₃ continuesactivation of laser scanning circuit 108, photoreceiving circuit 109,and A/D conversion circuit 110, while deactivating symbol decodingmodule 119 and commencing activation of data packet synthesis module120. While the laser beam is continuously scanned across the scan field,the operations at Blocks P to V described below, are carried out in ahigh speed manner under the orchestration of control module C₃.

As indicated at Block P, data packet synthesis module 120 first sets thePacket Number to "1", and increments the Packet Group Number from theprevious number. Preferably, the data packet synthesis module keepstrack of (i.e., manages) the "Packet Number" using a first modulo-Ncounter realized by programmable microprocessor 134, while it managesthe "Packet Group Number" using a second modulo-M counter also realizedby programmed microprocessor 134. In the illustrative embodiment, thefirst modulo counter has a cyclical count range of N=2 (i.e.,0,1,2,0,1,2, . . . ), whereas the second modulo counter has a cyclicalcount range of M=10 (i.e., 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0,1,2, . . . ). At BlockQ, the data packet synthesis module synthesizes or constructs a datapacket having a packet format as shown in FIG. 9, i.e., consisting ofsymbol character data, a Transmitter Identification Number, a PacketNumber, a Packet Group Number, check character, and Packet Start and End(i.e., framing) Characters. After the data packet has been formed andthe digital data sequence constituting the same is buffered, the thirdcontrol module C₃ activates at Block R the data packet transmissioncircuit. Thereafter at Block S, the data packet synthesis module outputsthe buffered digital data sequence (of the first synthesized data packetof the group) to the data packet transmission circuit, which uses thedigital data sequence to modulate the frequency of the carrier signal asit is being transmitted from the bar code symbol reading device, to itsmated base unit, as described hereinabove, and then automaticallydeactivates itself to conserve power.

At Block T, the third control module C₃ determines whether the PacketNumber counted by the first module counter is less than "3". If thePacket Number of the recently transmitted data packet is less than "3",indicative that at most only two data packets in a specific group havebeen transmitted, then at Block U the data packet synthesis module 120increments the Packet Number by +1. At Block V, the third control modulethen waits for a time delay T₅ to lapse prior to the control systemreturning to Block Q, as shown in FIG. 13B. Notably, the occurrence oftime delay T₅ causes a delay in transmission of the next data packet inthe data packet group. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the duration of timedelay T₅ is a function of the (last two digits of the) TransmitterNumber of the current data packet group, and thus is a function of thebar code symbol reading device transmitting symbol character data to itsmated base unit. For the case of three data packet groups, time delay T5will occur between the transmission of the first and second data packetsin a packet group and between the transmission of the second and thirddata packets in the same packet group.

Returning to Block Q, the data packet synthesis module synthesizes orconstructs the second data packet in the same data packet group. Afterthe second data packet has been formed and the digital data sequenceconstituting the same is buffered, the third control module C₃reactivates at Block R the data packet transmission circuit. Thereafterat Block S, the data packet synthesis module outputs the buffereddigital data sequence (of the second synthesized data packet) to thedata packet transmission circuit, which uses the digital data sequenceto modulate the frequency of the carrier signal as it is beingtransmitted from the bar code symbol reading device, to its mated baseunit, and thereafter automatically deactivates itself. When at Block Tthird control module C₃ determines that the Packet Number is equal to"3", the control system advances to Block W in FIG. 13C.

At Block W in FIG. 13C, the third control module C₃ continues activationof laser scanning circuit 108 photoreceiving circuit 109, and A/Dconversion circuit 110 using control override signals C₃ /C₁, anddeactivates symbol decoding module 119, data packet synthesis module 120and the data packet transmission circuit 121 using disable signals E₄=0, E₅ =0 and E₆ =0, respectively. Then at Block X the third controlmodule C₃ determines whether control activation signal A₁ =1, indicatingthat an object is present in the selected range of the scan field. Ifthis control activation signal is not provided to the third controlmodule C₃, then the control system returns to Block A, as shown. Ifcontrol activation signal A₁ =1 is received, then at Block Y the thirdcontrol module C₃ reactivates the bar code symbol detection circuitusing override signal C₃ /C₂, and resets and restarts timer T₃ to startrunning over its predetermined time period, i.e., 0<T₃ <5 seconds, andresets and restart timer T₄ for a predetermined time period 0<T₄ <3seconds.

At Block Z in FIG. 13C, the third control module C₃ then determineswhether control activation signal A₂ =1 is produced from the bar codesymbol detection circuit 111 within time period T₄, indicating that abar code symbol is present in the selected range of the scan fieldduring this time period. If this signal is not produced within timeperiod T₄, then at Block AA the third control module C₃ deactivates thebar code symbol detection circuit using override signal C₃ /C₂, andreactivates the bar code symbol decoding module 119 using enable signalE₄ =1. At Block BB, the third control module C₃ resets and restartstimer T₂ to run over its predetermined time period, i.e., 0<T₂ <1second. At Block CC the third control module C₃ determines whethercontrol activation signal A₃ =1 is produced by the symbol decodingmodule within time period T₂, indicating that the detected bar codesymbol has been successfully decoded within this time period. If thiscontrol activation signal is not produced within time period T₂, then atBlock DD the third control module C₃ determines whether controlactivation signal A₂ =1 is being produced from the bar code symboldetection circuit, indicating that either the same or another bar codesymbol resides within the selected range of the scan field. If controlactivation signal A₂ =1 is not being produced, then the control systemreturns to Block A, as shown. However, if this control signal is beingproduced, then at Block EE the third control module C₃ determineswhether or not timer T₃ has lapsed, indicating that time window to reada bar code symbol without redetecting the object on which it isdisposed, is closed. When this condition exists, the control systemreturns to Block A in FIG. 13A. However, it time remains on timer T₃,then at Block BB the third control module C₃ resets and restarts timerT₂ and returns to Block CC. As mentioned above, the control system mayflow through the control loop defined by Blocks BB-CC-DD-EE-BB a numberof times prior to reading a bar code within time period T₃.

When the symbol decoding module produces control activation signal A₃ =1within time period T₂, the third control module C₃ determines at BlockFF whether the decoded bar code symbol is different from the previouslydecoded bar code symbol. If the decoded bar code symbol is differentthan the previously decoded bar code symbol, then the control systemreturns to Block O in FIG. 13B. If the currently decoded bar code symbolis not different than the previously decoded bar code symbol, then thethird control module C₃ determines whether timer T₃ has lapsed. If thetimer T₃ has not lapsed, then the control system returns to Block BB andreenters the control flow defined at Blocks BB through GG, attemptingonce again to detect and read a bar code symbol on the detected object.However, if at Block GG timer T₃ has lapsed, then the control systemreturns to Block A in FIG. 13A.

Having described the operation of the illustrative embodiment of theautomatic hand-supportable bar code reading device of the presentinvention, it will be helpful to describe at this juncture the variousconditions which cause state transitions to occur during its operation.In this regard, reference is made to FIG. 14 which provides a statetransition diagram for the illustrative embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the automatic hand-supportable bar codereading device of the present invention has four basic states ofoperation namely: object detection, bar code symbol presence detection,bar code symbol reading, and symbol character data transmission/storage.The nature of each of these states has been described above in greatdetail.

Transitions between the various states are indicated by directionalarrows. Besides each set of directional arrows are transition conditionsexpressed in terms of control activation signals (e.g., A₁, A_(2S) orA_(2L) and A₃, and where appropriate, state time intervals (e.g., T₁,T₂, T₃, T₄, and T₅). Conveniently, the state diagram of FIG. 14expresses most simply the four basic operations occurring during thecontrol flow within the system control program of FIGS. 13A to 13C.Significantly, the control activation signals A₁, A_(2S) A_(2L) and A₃in FIG. 14 indicate which events within the object detection and/or scanfields can operate to effect a state transition within the allotted timeframe(s), where prescribed.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 to 15C, the base unit of the firstillustrative embodiment of the present invention will be described. Asshown, base unit 3 is realized in the form of a scanner stand comprisingsupport frame 240 releasibly connected to a base support/mounting plate241 by way of a snap fit fastening mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 15Band 15C. In the illustrative embodiment, support frame 240 is formed asan injection molded shell, in which a handle portion support structureis realized by a first support recess 243; whereas a head portionsupport structure is realized by a second support recess 245. As shownin FIG. 15, first support recess 243 is disposed above base portion 245and inclined at a first acute angle B₁ with respect thereto, whilesecond support recess 245 is disposed above base portion 245 andinclined at a second acute angle B₂ with respect thereto.

As best shown in FIG. 15, first support recess 243 is formed by a firstsubstantially planar support surface 246 surrounded by the projection ofopposing side walls 247A and 247B and rear wall 247C, extending aboveplanar support surface 246 in a perpendicular fashion. The function offirst support recess 243 is to receive and support the handle portion ofhandsupportable bar code reading device. Similarly, second supportrecess 245 is formed by a second substantially planar support surface248 surrounded by the projection of opposing side walls 249A and 249Band front wall surface 249C extending above planar support surface 248in a perpendicular fashion.

The function of support recess 245 is to receive and support the headportion of hand-supportable bar code reading device 2. Front wallprojection 249C is slightly lower than side wall projections 249A and249B to ensure that the transmitted IR signal from IR LED 148 is freelytransmitted through an aperture stop 250 formed in the head portion ofthe housing, whereas the reflected IR signal passes through an aperturestop 251 and is detected by IR photodiode 150 in the head portion of thehand-supportable housing. At the same time, this structural feature ofthe scanner support stand ensures that visible laser light is projectedand collected through light transmissive window 11 without obstruction,i.e., when the automatic bar code reading device is operated in itsautomatic hands-free mode, shown in FIG. 28, in particular.

In order to ensure that bar code reading device 2 is securely, yetreleasably supported within support recesses 243 and 245 and not easilyknocked out of the scanner support stand during the hands-free mode ofoperation, first and second magnetic elements 255 and 256 arepermanently mounted to the underside of planar support surfaces 246 and248, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 15C. With this arrangement,magnetic flux of constant intensity continuously emanates from supportrecesses 243 and 245. As a result, when the handle and head portions ofthe bar code reading device are placed within support recesses 243 and245, a ferrous element 257 in handle portion 9B is magneticallyattracted to magnetic element 255, while ferrous element 258 on headportion 9A is magnetically attracted to magnetic element 256. Themagnetic force of attraction between these elements is selected so thata desired degree of force is required to lift the automatic bar codereading device out of scanner support stand, while preventing accidentaldisplacement of the device from the scanner support stand during use inthe hands-free mode of operation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 15B and 15C, base mounting plate 241 is formedas a thin planar structure having perimetrical dimensions substantiallyequal to the perimetrical dimensions of the base portion of supportframe 240. At the front and rear end portions of base plate 241, a pairof projections 259 and 260 extend perpendicularly, as shown. Theseprojections have horizontal flanges which are adapted to snap fit intohorizontal grooves formed on the interior surfaces of front and rearwalls 261 and 262, as shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C.

To facilitate mounting of base plate 241 on a vertical planar mountingsurface, a pair of spaced apart mounting holes 263A and 263B areprovided. To facilitate attachment of base plate 241 to a pivotal jointassembly 265 associated with pedestal base 266, as illustrated in FIGS.28 to 29B, a set of mounting holes (not shown) are formed in the baseplate itself. To facilitate support of base plate 241 upon a horizontalsupport surface, as illustrated in FIGS. 27A to 27D, a set of fourrubber feet (not shown) may be adhesively applied to the undersidecorners of the base plate.

In order to perform the data packet reception, processing,retransmission, and acknowledgement functions of base unit 3 describedabove, a circuit board 270 populated with electronic circuitry isconcealed within the interior volume contained between the interiorsurface of support stand portion 245 and the upper surface of base plate241. In the illustrated embodiment, PC board 270 contains electroniccircuitry for realizing each of the functions represented by the blockshown in the system diagram of FIG. 16. As shown in FIG. 15A, flexiblecommunication and power supply cables 7 and 8 are routed throughaperture 271 formed in the lower portion of rear wall of the supportframe, as shown in FIG. 15C, and connect to the electronic circuitry onPC board 270.

In FIG. 16, the system architecture of base unit 3 is schematicallyrepresented. As shown, base unit 3 comprises a number hardware andsoftware components, namely: a power supply circuit 273; a receivingantenna element 274; an RF carrier signal receiver circuit 275 base unitidentification number storage unit 276; a data packet storage buffer277; a base unit system controller 278; a data packet frame check module279; a transmitter number identification module 280; a data packetnumber identification module 281; a symbol character data extractionmodule 282; a data format conversion module 283; a serial datatransmission circuit 284; and an acoustical acknowledgement signalgeneration circuit 285. In the illustrative embodiment, a programmedmicroprocessor and associated memory (i.e., ROM and RAM), indicated byreference numeral 286, are used to realize the base unit systemcontroller 278 and each of the above-described data processing modules277 to 283. The details of such a programming implementation are knownby those with ordinary skill in the art to which the present inventionpertains.

As shown in FIG. 16, receiving antenna element 274 is electricallycoupled to an input signal port of radio receiver circuit 275 in aconventional manner. In general, the function of radio receiver circuit275 is to receive and process the data-packet modulated carrier signaltransmitted from a remote bar code symbol reader to its mated base unit.The radio receiver circuit of the illustrative embodiment can berealized by configuring several commercially available IC chipstogether, although it is understood that there are certainly other waysin which to realize the basic functions of this circuit. As shown inFIG. 16A, receiving antenna 274 is connected to a matching filtercircuit 287 realized using miniature inductive and capacitivecomponents. The matching filter circuit is tuned to pass a 912 MHz RFcarrier signal transmitted from the data packet transmission circuit 121of the bar code symbol reading device. The output of matching filtercircuit 287 is connected to the input of a first IC chip 288 whichconverts (i.e., translates) the frequency spectrum of the receivedmodulated carrier signal down to an intermediate frequency band, forsubsequent signal processing. In the illustrative embodiment, the firstIC chip 288 is realized using the MAF2001 IC chip from Motorola, Inc.,and provides a low noise amplifier 289, an double balanced mixer 290. Alocal oscillator 292 is needed to provide a local oscillator signal ofabout 922.7 MHZ for use in frequency down-conversion in the doublebalanced mixer 290. Typically, a matching filter 291 is commonlyrequired between local oscillator 292 and mixer 290. As shown in FIG.16A, the output of the first IC chip is provided to a band-pass filter293 tuned to about 10.7 MHZ, the intermediate frequency band of eachbase unit. The intermediate signal is then provided as input to a secondIC chip 294. In the illustrative embodiment, the second IC chip 294 isrealized using the MC13156 IC chip commercially available from Motorola,and provides inter alia an amplification circuit, a quadraturedemodulation circuit 295, a binary thresholding circuit 296, and carriersignal detection circuit 297. The function of the second IC chip isfour-fold. The first function of the second IC chip is to filter andamplify the intermediate signal to produce in-phase and quadrature phasesignal components for use in digital data recovery. The second functionof the second IC chip is to recover an analog data signal at the baseband portion of the spectrum, by providing the in-phase andquadrature-phase signal components to the quadrature demodulationcircuit 295. Suitable quadrature demodulation circuitry for use inpracticing the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,230to Marz, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Asillustrated in FIG. 16A, the third function of the second IC chip is toconvert the analog data signal produced from quadrature demodulationcircuit 295 into a digital data signal using a binary-level thresholdingcircuit 296. The fourth function of the second IC chip is to analyze theincoming signal from the output of band-pass filter 293 in order todetect the incoming carrier signal and produce a carrier detect signalA₇ to the base unit system controller 278. In order to produce a CMOScompatible signal, the recovered digital data signal produced fromsecond IC chip 294 is amplified by a current amplification circuit 298that is operative whenever a carrier signal is detected (i.e., A₇ =1).As shown in FIG. 16, the output of current amplification circuit 298 isa serial data stream that is clocked into data packet storage buffer 277under the control of base unit system controller 278. In general, thedata packet storage buffer 277 can be realized using a commerciallyavailable Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) device. Theprimary function of data packet buffer memory 277 is to buffer bytes ofdigital data in the produced digital data stream.

In the illustrative embodiment, it necessary to provide a means withinthe base unit housing, to recharge the batteries contained within thehand-supportable housing of the portable bar code symbol reading device.Typically, DC electrical power will be available from the host computersystem 6, to which the base unit is operably connected by way offlexible cables 7 and 8. An electrical arrangement for achieving thisfunction is set forth in FIG. 16. As shown, power supply circuit 273aboard the base unit of the present invention comprises a conventionalcurrent chopper circuit 299, a high-pass electrical filter 300 inparallel therewith, and a primary inductive coil 301 in parallel withthe high-pass electrical filter. Low voltage DC electrical powerprovided from the host computer system by way of power cable 8 isprovided to direct current (DC) chopper circuit 299, which is realizedon PC board 270 using high-speed current switching circuits. Thefunction of current chopper circuit 299 is to convert the input DCvoltage to the circuit into a high-frequency triangular-type(time-varying) waveform, consisting of various harmonic signalcomponents. The function of the high-pass electrical filter is to filterout the lower frequency signal components and only pass the higherfrequency signal components to the inductive coil 301. As such, the highfrequency electrical currents permitted to flow through inductive coil301 induce a high voltage thereacross and produce time-varying magneticflux (i.e., lines of force). In accordance with well known principles ofelectrical energy transfer, the produced magnetic flux transferselectrical power from the base unit to the rechargeable battery aboardthe bar code symbol reading device, whenever the primary and secondaryinductive coils aboard the base unit and the mated device areelectromagnetically coupled by the magnetic flux. In order to maximizeenergy transfer between the base unit and its mated device duringbattery recharging operations, high permeability materials and wellknown principles of magnetic circuit design can be used to increase theamount of magnetic flux coupling the primary and secondary inductivecoils of the battery recharging circuit.

Referring to FIG. 16, the function of each of the data processingmodules of base unit 3 will now be described in detail.

Upon reception of an incoming carrier signal and the recovery of thedigital data stream therefrom, base unit system controller 278orchestrates the processing of the recovered digital data stream. Asshown in FIG. 16, the operation of data processing modules 279, 280,281, 282 and 283 are enabled by the production of enable signalsE_(PFC), E_(TID), E_(DPID), E_(DE), and E_(DFC), respectively, from thebase unit system controller.

The primary function of data packet frame check module 279 is to analyzeall of the data bytes in the received data packet, including the Startand End of Packet Fields, and determine whether a complete frame (i.e.,packet) of digital data bytes has been recovered from the incomingmodulated carrier signal. If so, then data packet frame check module 279produces activation control signal A_(PFC) =1, which is provided to thebase unit system controller, as shown in FIG. 16.

The primary function of the transmitter number identification module 280is to analyze the data bytes in the Transmitter ID Field of the receiveddata packet and determine the Transmitter ID Number preassigned to thebar code reading device that transmitted the data packet received by thebase unit. If the Transmitter ID Number of the received data packetmatches the preassigned Base Unit Identification No. stored innon-volatile memory (i.e., EPROM) 302 aboard the base unit, then thetransmitter number identification module generates control activationsignal A_(TID) =1, which is provided to the base unit system controller.

The primary function of the packet number identification module 281 isto analyze the data bytes in the Packet Number Field of the receiveddata packet and determine the Packet Number of the data packet receivedby the base unit. This module then advises the base unit systemcontroller that a different packet number was received, representing anew group (e.g., now seen) by producing an encoded signal A_(DPID)during the system control process.

The primary function of the symbol character data extraction module 282is to analyze the data bytes in the Symbol Character Data Field of thereceived data packet, determine the code represented by the symbolcharacter data, and provided this symbol character data to the dataformat conversion module 283 under the control of the base unit systemcontroller during the system control process.

The primary function of the data format conversion module 283 is toconvert the format of the recovered symbol character data, into a dataformat that can be used by the host computer symbol 6 that is toultimately receive and use the symbol character data. In the bar codesymbol reading system of first illustrative embodiment, the data formatconversion is from ASCII format to RS232 format, although it isunderstood that other conversions may occur in alternative embodiment ofthe present invention. Typically, the data format conversion process iscarried out using a data format conversion table which contains theappropriate data structure conversions.

The primary function of the serial data transmission circuit 284 is toaccept the format-converted symbol character data from the data formatconversion module 283, and transmit the same as a serial data streamover data communication cable 7, to the data input port of the hostcomputer system 6 (e.g., cash register, data collection device,inventory computer). Preferably, an RS-232 data communication protocolis used to facilitate the data transfer process. Thus the constructionof serial data transmission circuit 284 is conventional and the detailsthereof are well within the knowledge of those with ordinary skill inthe art.

The primary function of acoustical acknowledgement signal generationcircuit 285 is to produce an acoustical acknowledgement signal SA inresponse to the successful recovery of symbol character data from atransmitted data packet. The purpose of the acoustical acknowledgementsignal is to notify the user that the transmitted data packet has beensuccessfully received by its mated base unit. In the illustrativeembodiment, the intensity of the acoustical acknowledgement signal issuch that the remotely situated user of the portable bar code symbolreader can easily hear the acoustical acknowledgement signal in anexpected work environment having an average noise floor of at leastabout 50 decibels. Preferably, the pitch of the acousticalacknowledgement signal is within the range of about 1 to about 10kilohertz, in order to exploit the sensitivity characteristics of thehuman auditory apparatus of the user. In the exemplary embodiment, thepitch is about 2.5 kilohertz. Under such conditions, the intensity ofsuch an acoustical acknowledgement signal at its point of generationwill typically need to have an output signal power of about 70 decibelsin order to be heard by the user in a working environment having anaverage noise floor of about 50 decibels and an average noise ceiling ofabout 100 decibels. Acoustical acknowledgement signals of such charactercan be produced from acoustical acknowledgement signal generationcircuit 285, shown in FIG. 285.

As shown in FIG. 16B, acoustical acknowledgement signal generationcircuit 285 comprises a number of subcomponents, namely: a decodercircuit 305; a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) driver circuit 306; aVCO circuit 307; an output amplifier circuit 308; and a piezo-electrictype electro-acoustic transducer 303 having an output signal bandwidthin the audible range. The operation (i.e., duration) of the acousticalacknowledgment signal generation circuit 285 is controlled by base unitsystem controller 278 using enable signal E_(AA). In the illustrativeembodiment, enable signal E_(AA) is a digital word encoded to representone of a number of possible audible pitches or tones that are to begenerated upon each successful reception of a transmitted data packet ata mated base station. The function of decoder circuit 305 is to decodethe enable signal EAA produced by the base unit system controller andproduce a set of voltage signals {V₁ 1, V2, . . . , Vn} which correspondto a specified pitch sequence to be produced by electro-acoustictransducer 309. The function of VCO driver circuit 306 is tosequentially drive VCO circuit 307 with the produced set of voltages {V₁1, V2, . . . , Vn} so that VCO circuit produces over a short time period(e.g., 0.5-1.5 seconds), a set of electrical signals having frequenciesthat correspond to the specified pitch sequence to be produced from theelectro-acoustic transducer 309. The function of amplifier circuit 308is to amplify these electrical signals, whereas the function ofelectro-acoustical transducer 309 is to convert the amplified electricalsignal set into the specified pitch sequence for the user to clearlyhear in the expected operating environment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 15A,the base housing is preferably provided with an aperture or sound port304 so as to permit the energy of the acoustical signal from transducer309 to freely emanate to the ambient environment of the user. Inparticular application, it may be desired or necessary to produceacoustical acknowledgement signal of yet greater intensity levels thatthose specified above. In such instances, electro-acoustical transducer309 may be used to excite one or more tuned resonant chamber(s) mountedwithin or formed as part of the base unit housing.

Having described the structure and general functional components of baseunit 3, it is appropriate at this juncture to now describe the overalloperation thereof with reference to the control process shown in FIG.17.

As illustrated at Block A in FIG. 17, radio receiving circuit 275 is theonly system component that is normally active at this stage of the baseunit system control process. All other system components are inactive(i.e., disabled), including base unit system controller 278; data packetstorage buffer 277, data packet frame check module 279, transmitternumber identification module 280, data packet number Identificationmodule 281, symbol character data extraction module 282, data formatconversion module 283, serial data transmission-circuit 284, andacoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit 285. With the radioreceiving circuit activated, the base unit is capable of receiving anymodulated carrier signal transmitted from any of the bar code symbolreading devices within the data transmission range of the base unit.

At Block B in FIG. 17, radio receiving circuit 275 determines whether ithas received a transmitted carrier signal on its receiving antennaelement 274. If it has, then the radio receiving circuit generates asystem controller activation signal A₇, which activates base unit systemcontroller 278 and signal amplifier 276 shown in FIG. 16 and 16a,respectively. Then at Block C, the base unit system controller activates(i.e., enables) data packet storage buffer 277 and data packet framecheck module 279 by producing activation control signals ESB=1 andE_(PFC) =1, respectively. At Block D, the base unit system controllerdetermines whether it has received an acknowledgement (i.e., controlactivation signal A_(PFC) =1) from the data packet frame check module,indicating that the received data packet is properly framed. If thereceived data packet is not properly framed, then the base unit returnsto Block A in order to redetect an incoming carrier signal. However, ifthe received data packet is properly framed, then at Block E the baseunit system controller enables the transmitter number identificationmodule by generating enable signal E_(TID) =1.

At Block F, the base unit system controller determines whether it hasreceived an acknowledgment (i.e., control activation signal A_(TID) =1)from the transmitter number identification module that the received datapacket contains the correct transmitter identification number (i.e., thesame number assigned to the base unit and stored in storage unit 276).If the Transmitter Identification Number contained within the receiveddata packet does not match the base unit identification number stored instorage unit 276, then the base unit system controller returns to BlockA whereupon it resumes carrier signal detection. If, however, thetransmitter packet number contained within the received data packetmatches the base unit identification number, then at Block G the baseunit system controller enables the data packet number identificationmodule 289 by generating enable signal E_(DPID) =1.

At Block H, the base unit system controller determines whether it hasreceived an acknowledgment (i.e., control activation signal A_(DPID) =1)from the data packet identification module indicating that the receiveddata packet is not a redundant data packet (i.e., from the sametransmitted data packet group). If the received data packet is aredundant data packet, then the base unit system controller returns toBlock A, whereupon carrier signal detection is resumed. If, however, thereceived data packet is not redundant, then at Block I the base unitsystem controller enables the symbol character data extraction module bygenerating enable signal E_(DE) =1. In response to the generation ofthis enable signal, the symbol data extraction module reads at Block Jthe symbol character data contained in the received data packet, checksthe data for statistical reliability, and the writes the extractedsymbol character data bytes into a storage buffer (not explicitlyshown).

As indicated at Block K in FIG. 17, the base unit system controller thenenables the data format conversion module by generating enable signalE_(DFC) =1. In response to this enable signal, the data formatconversion module converts the data format of the recovered symbolcharacter data and then buffers. the format-converted symbol characterdata bytes in a data buffer (not explicitly shown). At Block L the baseunit system controller enables the serial data transmission circuit 284by generating enable signal E_(DT) =1. In response to this enablesignal, the serial data transmission circuit transmits theformat-converted symbol character data bytes over communication cable 7using serial data transmission techniques well known in the art, asdiscussed above. When the serial data transmission process issuccessfully completed, the base unit system controller enables at BlockM the acoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit 285 byproducing enable signal E_(AA) =1. In response to the production of thisenable signal, acoustical acknowledgment signal generation circuit 285generates a high intensity acoustical signal having characteristics ofthe type described above, thereby informing the user that a transmitteddata packet has been received and that the symbol character datapackaged therein has been successfully recovered and transmitted to thehost computer system. Thereafter, the base unit system controllerreturns to the Block A, as shown.

The second illustrative embodiment of the base unit shown in FIGS. 4 to4B will now be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 18Ato 20D. In general, the base unit of the second illustrative embodimentis similar to the base unit of the first illustrative embodimentdescribed above, except for the following differences described belowwhich reflect additional functionalities provided by the data collectionaspect of the portable base unit.

As illustrated in FIGS. 18A to 18C, data collection base unit 37comprises a hand-holdable housing 320 which houses the operativeelements of the device to be described below. Housing 320 has a toppanel 320A, bottom panel 320B, front and rear panels 320C and 320D, andtwo opposing side panels 320E and 320F, as shown. A 4×4 membrane keypad321 is mounted through the lower portions of top panel 320E for manualentry of alphanumeric type data including, for example, data related tobar code symbols. Notably, a separate switch is provided for turning thedevice ON and OFF. Above the keypad, there is mounted an LCD type 1×16character display 322 for visually displaying data including (i) databeing manually entered through keypad 321, (ii) operator messages and(iii) data entry verification messages which will be described ingreater detail hereinafter.

Through front panel 320C adjacent character display 322, a data-outputcommunication port 323 is provided. In the illustrative embodiment,data-output communication port 323 includes a 9-pin male connector 324,to which one end of communication cable 7 is connected, while the otherend thereof is connected to the data-input port of a host computersystem, such as point of sale (POS) cash register/computer 6. As will bedescribed in greater detail hereinafter, data-output communication port323 is particularly adapted for transmitting collected symbol characterdata stored in base unit 37, over communication cable 7 and through thedata-input communication port of host computer system.

As shown in FIG. 18A, a pair of D-rings 325A and 325B are rotatablymounted to the rear end of the housing for conveniently supporting thedata collection base unit on the operator's body while, for example,taking inventory. In this way, a cord, shoulder strap or belt strap canbe attached to the D-rings. With this housing support arrangement, theuser can simply pickup the hand-holdable data collection base unit inone hand and manually enter data through the keypad using one's thumb,while viewing the character display screen.

While not visually shown in FIGS. 18A, 18B or 18C, data collection baseunit 37 includes a battery-power storage unit 326 realized, in theillustrative embodiment, as four AA type 1.5 volt batteries. Thesebatteries are contained within a battery carrier attached to a hingedpanel formed on the bottom panel 320B of the housing. Access to thebattery carrier is achieved by simply opening the hinged panel, whichafter replacement of batteries, can be snapped shut.

In FIG. 19, the system architecture of data collection base unit 37 isschematically represented. As shown, data collection base unit 37comprises a number hardware and software components, namely: a powersupply circuit 326; low battery detection circuit 327; power conversioncircuit 328; a data entry means in the form of 4×4 keyboard 321; LCDdisplay 323; host detection circuit 329; power switch 330; 9 pinconnector 324; a non-volatile data storage means (e.g., EPROM) 331; datastorage memory (e.g., 32 Kilobyte RAM) 332; power fail RAM protectioncircuit 333; storage capacitor 334; receiving antenna element 335; an RFcarrier receiving circuit 336; a data packet storage buffer 338; a baseunit system controller 339; a data packet frame check module 340; atransmitter number identification module 341; a packet group numberidentification module 342; a symbol character data extraction module343; a data format conversion module 344; a serial data transmissioncircuit 345; and an acoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit346 In the illustrative embodiment, a programmed microprocessor andassociated memory (i.e., ROM and RAM), indicated by reference numeral347, are used to realize the base unit system controller 340 and each ofthe above-described data processing and storage modules 339 to 344.Notably, a base unit ID register for storing the unique ID Numberpreassigned to the base unit, is realized using available memory inEPROM 331. The details of such a programming implementation are known bythose with ordinary skill in the art to which the present inventionpertains. System elements 335 to 346 in base unit 37 are structurallyand functionally the same as system elements 274 to 285 in base unit 3,and thus do not require further description or explanation.

As shown in FIG. 19, data entry keypad 321 and character display 322 areeach operably connected to base unit system controller 340, for enteringand displaying data, respectively, as hereinbefore described.Data-output communication port 324 is connected to data transmissioncircuit 346, as shown.

The function of power conversion circuit 328 is to upconvert the batteryvoltage to +5 V supply, 349, whereas the function of power switchingcircuitry 330 is to disable the receiver by removing its power, duringthe downloading of data to a host device. When battery detect circuit327 detects low battery power levels, it sends the base unit systemcontroller a low-battery-level detect signal to initiate an alarm to theuser.

The function of the host detect circuit 329 is to determine whether thedata-output communication port of the base unit is physically (andelectrically) connected to data-input communication port of hostcomputer system. Thus, when host device detect circuit 329 detects ahost device plugged into data-output communication port 323, it willprovide a host device detect signal A_(DL) to the system controllerwhich automatically activates the system controller to begininitializing for "down-loading" of collected bar code symbol characterdata, from the data collection device into the host device. To permitthe host device to supply power to the data collection device duringdata downloading operations, and thus conserve battery power, a powersupply line 350 is provided between a pin of data-output communicationconnector 224 and the positive side of battery supply 326. To restrictpower flow from the data collection device to the host device, a diode351 is inserted in series along this power supply line 350, as shown.

Symbol character data recovered by symbol character data extractionmodule 343, is stored within RAM 332. To facilitate transfer of suchdata from module 342 to RAM storage unit 332, a data bus 352 isprovided, as shown. Also associated with data bus 352 is EEPROM 331. Thebase unit system controller will typically store particular data items,such as set-up parameters and the like, in non-volatile RAM 331 as suchdata can be retained therein for the lifetime of the data collectionbase unit.

RAM storage unit 332 is protected by power-fail/RAM-protect circuit 333which, as shown in FIG. 19, is operably associated with storagecapacitor 334 and the write line of RAM storage unit 353. RAM storageunit 332 is protected in two ways. Firstly, during power transitions,circuit 333 inhibits write signals to RAM storage unit 332, andconsequently stored symbol character data is protected from corruption.Secondly, during periods of battery power failure, circuit 333 enablesstorage capacitor 334 to provide power to RAM storage unit 332 forminimally one hour in order to maintain the integrity of stored symbolcharacter data.

Having described the structure and function of data collection base unit37, its versatile operation will now be described with reference to thesystem control program illustrated in FIGS. 20A to 20D.

As indicated in FIG. 20A, upon enabling the POWER-ON switch, the (baseunit) system controller advances to Block A. At Block A, the systemcontroller checks to determine whether the output of host detect circuit329 indicates that a host device is plugged into data-outputcommunication port 324. If it detects this condition, then at Block Bthe system controller enables power switching circuit 330 and uses thesame to disconnect the power supply from the RF signal receivingcircuit. Then at Block C, the system controller checks to determinewhether there is any data stored in RAM storage unit 332 for downloadingto the connected host device. If there is no data stored in RAM storageunit 332, then the system controller proceeds to Block D, and writes"MEMORY EMPTY" to character display 322. Thereafter, the systemcontroller remains at Block E until it receives host detect signalA_(DL) =0 indicative that the host device is no longer plugged intodata-output communications port 324. Upon the occurrence of this event,the system controller returns to Block A, as shown.

If, at Block C, the system controller determines that there is datastored in RAM storage unit 332 for downloading into the host device,then at Block F the system controller writes "TO COM HIT ENTER" tocharacter display 322. At Block G, the system controller polls thekeypad for the occurrence of a key press operation, and at Block Hdetermines whether the ENTER key has been pressed. If any key other thanthe ENTER is pressed, then the system controller returns to controlBlock A. If the ENTER key is pressed, the system controller proceeds toBlock I and writes the message "TRANSMITTING" to character display 322.Then at Blocks J through M, data in RAM storage unit 332 is downloadedto the host device connected to data-output communication port 324.

Specifically, at Block J in FIG. 20B, the base unit system controllerenables data format conversion module 344 by generating enable signalE_(DFC) =1. In response to this enable signal, the data formatconversion module converts the data format of the recovered symbolcharacter data and then buffers the format-converted symbol characterdata bytes in data buffer 332. Then at Block K the base unit systemcontroller enables the serial data transmission circuit 345 bygenerating enable signal E_(DT) =1. In response to this enable signal,the serial data transmission circuit transmits the format-convertedsymbol character data bytes over communication cable 7 using serial datatransmission techniques well known in the art, as discussed above. AtBlock L, the system checks to determine if all data in RAM storage unit332 has been transmitted, and if so, writes the message "MEMORY EMPTY"or "DOWNLOAD COMPLETE" to character display 322, as indicated at Block Din FIG. 20C. Thereafter, the system controller remains at Block E untilthe host device is disconnected from data-output communication port 324,and thereupon returns to Block A.

However, if it is determined at Block L in FIG. 20D that data transferfrom RAM storage unit 332 is not complete, then as indicated at Block Mthe system controller checks to determine whether the host device isstill connected to data-output communication port 324 (i.e., A_(DL) =1).If host device has been disconnected (i.e., A_(DL) =0), then the systemcontroller returns to Block A, as shown. If, on the other hand, the hostdevice remains connected to data-output communications port 324, thesystem controller returns to Block J to form a control loop within whichthe system controller will remain so long as there remains data in RAMstorage unit 332 and the host device remains connected to data-outputcommunication port 324.

As indicated at Block A in FIG. 20A, if the system controller does notreceive host detect signal A_(DL) =1 from host detect circuit 329,indicative that a host device is not plugged into the data-outputcommunication port, then the system controller proceeds to Block N. AtBlock N, the system controller first checks the output of low batterycircuit 327 to determine that sufficient power is available. Ifinsufficient battery strength is indicated, then at Block O the systemcontroller disconnects battery power supply 326 from data-outputcommunication port 324 by way of power switching circuit 320. Thereafterat Block P in FIG. 20A, the system controller writes "LOW BATTERIES" tocharacter display 322. The system controller remains at Block Q until itreceives host detect signal A_(DL) =1, indicative that the host deviceis plugged into data-output communication port 324. If so, the systemcontroller advances to Block-C, as hereinbefore described. Notably, thischoice of control flow is based on the fact that, during datadownloading operations, power is supplied to the data collection baseunit by the host device, and the battery level of the data collectiondevice is of no consequence during such operations.

If a LOW battery level is not detected at Block N, then the systemcontroller proceeds to Block R and polls both the receiver circuit andthe keypad for entry of data. If the system controller determines thatno data is being presented for collection, then the system controllerreturns to Block A, as shown. However, if one of these components hasdata for collection, then at Block S in FIG. 20B the system controllerdetermines which one has data for entry. If the keypad has data forentry and collection, then the system controller proceeds to Block T inFIG. 20C.

At Block T, the system controller uploads such data by first writing thedata to character display 323, and then at Block U storing the data inRAM storage unit 332. Then, at Block V, the system controller determineswhether RAM storage unit 332 is filled to capacity. If it is, then atBlock W the system controller writes "MEMORY FULL" to character display332. Thereafter, the system controller remains at Block X until itreceives host detect signal A_(DL) =1, indicative that a host device isconnected to data-output communications port 324 for downloadingcollected data thereto. When a host device is detected at thedata-output communications port 324, the system controller proceeds toBlock C for participating in downloading of a collection data, in amanner described above. If, at Block V, the system controller determinesthat RAM storage unit 332 is not full, then the system controllerreturns to Block A, as shown.

If at Block S the RF receiver circuit has data for entry, then thesystem controller proceeds to Block Y in FIG. 20D. At this Block, thesystem controller enables data packet storage buffer 338 and data packetframe check module 340 by producing activation control signals E_(SB) =1and E_(PFC) =1, respectively. At Block Z, the base unit systemcontroller determines whether it has received an acknowledgement (i.e.,control activation signal A_(PFC) =1) from the data packet frame checkmodule, indicating that the received data packet is properly framed. Ifthe received data packet is not properly framed, then the base unitreturns to Block R in order to redetect the incoming carrier signal.

However, if the received data packet is properly framed, then at BlockAA the base unit system controller enables the transmitter numberidentification module by generating enable signal E_(TID) =1.

At Block BB in FIG. 20D, the base unit system controller determineswhether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control activationsignal A_(TID) =1) from the transmitter number identification module 341that the received data packet contains the correct transmitteridentification number (i.e., the same number assigned to the base unit).If the Transmitter Identification Number contained within the receiveddata packet does not match the Base Unit Identification Numberpreassigned to the base unit, then the base unit system controllerreturns to Block R whereupon it resumes carrier signal detection. If,however, the Transmitter Identification Number contained in the receiveddata packet matches the Base Unit Identification Number stored in EPROM331, then at Block CC the base unit system controller enables the datapacket group number identification module 342 by generating enablesignal E_(DPID) =1.

At Block DD in FIG. 20D, the base unit system controller determineswhether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control activationsignal A_(DPID) =1) from the data packet group identification module 342indicating that the received data packet is not a redundant data packet(i.e., from the same transmitted data packet group). This is achieved byanalyzing the Packet Group Number of the previous and currently receiveddata packets. If the received data packet is a redundant data packet,then the base unit system controller returns to Block R, whereuponcarrier signal detection is resumed. If, however, the received datapacket is determined not redundant at Block DD, then at Block EE thebase unit system controller enables the symbol character data extractionmodule 343 by generating enable signal E_(DE) =1. In response to thegeneration of this enable signal, symbol data extraction module 343reads the bytes of symbol character data contained in the received datapacket, checks the data for statistical reliability, and the writes theextracted symbol character data bytes into storage buffer 338.

At Block FF in FIG. 20D, the base unit system controller enables atBlock FF the acoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit 346 byproducing enable signal E_(AA) =1. In response to the production of thisenable signal, acoustical acknowledgment signal generation circuit 346generates a high intensity acoustical signal having characteristics ofthe type described above, thereby informing the user that a transmitteddata packet has been received and that the symbol character datapackaged therein has been successfully recovered and transmitted to thehost computer system. Thereafter, the base unit system controllerproceeds to Block T in FIG. 20C, as shown.

In the event that the operator desires to clear RAM storage unit 332 ofcollected data, the operator must enter a preset code word oralphanumeric code by way of keypad 321. This feature prevents accidentalerasure of collected data. Also, the data collection device of thepresent invention automatically down-loads the stored data to the hostcomputer system upon detection of the data-receive port. Rather thanprogramming the data collection device for such data "downloading"transfers, data downloading routines are programmed into the hostcomputer system. Preferably, these downloading routines are designed toaccept downloaded symbols and create an ASCII file.

The third illustrative embodiment of the base unit shown in FIGS. 5A to5D will now be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 21 to23.

As shown in FIG. 21, base unit 360 is realized as a PCMCIA card 361,including a PC board 362, which as a single device inserts into thePCMCIA (TYPE II or III) port 363 of a portable or desk-top computersystem 364. In general, the system architecture of base unit 360 issimilar to base unit 3 of the first illustrative embodiment describedabove. As shown in FIG. 22, base unit 360 comprises a number hardwareand software components, namely: a power supply circuit 373; a receivingantenna element 374; an RF carrier signal receiver circuit 375; a datapacket storage buffer 377; a base unit system controller 378; a datapacket frame check module 379; a transmitter number identificationmodule 380; a data packet number identification module 381; a symbolcharacter data extraction module 382; a serial-data-to-PCMCIA-busconversion module 383; a PCMCIA bus interface circuit 384; and anacoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit 385. In theillustrative embodiment, a programmed microprocessor and associatedmemory (i.e., ROM and RAM) mounted on PC board 362, indicated byreference numeral 386, are used to realize base unit system controller378 and each of the above-described data processing modules 377 to 383in a similar manner hereinbefore described. The details of such aprogramming implementation are known by those with ordinary skill in theart to which the present invention pertains.

As shown in FIG. 22, the output of the symbol character data extractionmodule 382 is provided to the input of theserial-data-to-PCMCIA-bus-conversion module 383. The function of thisconversion module is to convert the format of the recovered symbolcharacter data so that it may be placed on the PCMCIA bus of hostcomputer 364, via PCMCIA bus interface circuit 384. The function ofPCMCIA bus interface circuit 384 is to realize the interface between thePCMCIA bus aboard host computer 364 and the circuitry on PC board 362which realizes the structures and functions of the base unit.Electro-acoustical transducer 388, which forms part of the acousticalacknowledgment signal generation circuit 385, and RF receiving antenna374, are both mounted on a selected portion of PC board 362 that extendsfrom the PCMCIA port 363, as shown. In this way, the receiving antennaelement is free to detect RF carrier signals, while theelectro-acoustical transducer is free to transmit acousticalacknowledgment signals to the ambient environment for the user to hear.In all other respects, the base unit 360 is structurally andfunctionally similar to base unit 3 described above.

The overall operation of the base unit of the third illustrativeembodiment will be described below with reference to the control processshown in FIG. 23.

As illustrated at Block A in FIG. 23, radio receiving circuit 375 is theonly system component that is normally active at this stage of the baseunit system control process; all other system components are inactive(i.e., disabled) including base unit system controller 378; data packetstorage buffer 377, data packet frame check module 379, transmitternumber identification module 380, data packet number Identificationmodule 381, symbol character data extraction module 382,serial-data-to-PCMCIA-bus-conversion module 383, PCMCIA bus interfacecircuit 384, and acoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit385. With the radio receiving circuit activated, base unit 360 iscapable of receiving any modulated carrier signal transmitted from anyof the bar code symbol reading devices within the data transmissionrange of the base unit.

At Block B in FIG. 23, radio receiving circuit 375 determines whether ithas received a transmitted carrier signal on its receiving antennaelement 374. If it has, then the radio receiving circuit generates asystem controller activation signal A₇, which activates base unit systemcontroller 378 shown in FIG. 21. Then at Block C, the base unit systemcontroller activates (i.e., enables) data packet storage buffer 377 anddata packet frame check module 379 by producing activation controlsignals E_(SB) =1 and E_(PFC) =1, respectively. At Block D, the baseunit system controller determines whether it has received anacknowledgement (i.e., control activation signal A_(PFC) =1) from thedata packet frame check module, indicating that the received data packetis properly framed. If the received data packet is not properly framed,then the base unit returns to Block A in order to redetect an incomingcarrier signal. However, if the received date packet is properly framed,then at Block E the base unit system controller enables the transmitternumber identification module by generating enable signal E_(TID) =1.

At Block F in FIG. 23, the base unit system controller determineswhether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control activationsignal A_(TID) =1) from the transmitter number identification modulethat the received data packet contains the correct transmitteridentification number (i.e., the same number assigned to the base unitand stored in storage unit 376). If the Transmitter IdentificationNumber contained within the received data packet does not match the BaseUnit Identification Number stored in storage unit 376, then the baseunit system controller returns to Block A whereupon it resumes carriersignal detection. If, however, the Transmitter Identification Numbercontained in the received data packet matches the Base UnitIdentification Number, then at Block G the base unit system controllerenables the data packet number identification module 389 by generatingenable signal E_(DPID) =1.

At Block H in FIG. 23, the base unit system controller determineswhether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control activationsignal A_(DPID) =1) from the data packet identification moduleindicating that the received data packet is not a redundant data packet(i.e., from the same transmitted data packet group). If the receiveddata packet is a redundant data packet, then the base unit systemcontroller returns to Block A, whereupon carrier signal detection isresumed. If, however, the received data packet is not redundant, then atBlock I the base unit system controller enables the symbol characterdata extraction module by generating enable signal E_(DE) =1. Inresponse to the generation of this enable signal, the symbol dataextraction module reads at Block J the symbol character data containedin the received data packet, checks the data for statisticalreliability, and the writes the extracted symbol character data bytesinto a storage buffer (not explicitly shown). Thereafter, as indicatedat Block K, the base unit system controller enablesserial-data-to-PCMCIA-bus conversion module 383 by generating enablesignal E_(DFC) =1. In response to this enable signal, theserial-data-to-PCMCIA-bus conversion module 383 converts the data formatof the recovered symbol character data and then transfers theformat-converted data to the PCMCIA bus of the host computer 364 by wayof bus interface circuitry 384. When the serial data transmissionprocess is successfully completed, the base unit system controllerenables at Block L the acoustical acknowledgement signal generationcircuit 385 by producing enable signal E_(AA) =1. In response to theproduction of this enable signal, acoustical acknowledgment signalgeneration circuit 285 generates a high intensity acoustical signalhaving characteristics of the type described above, thereby informingthe user that a transmitted data packet has been received and that thesymbol character data packaged therein has been successfully recoveredand transmitted to the host computer system. Thereafter, the base unitsystem controller returns to the Block A, as shown.

The fourth illustrative embodiment of the base unit of FIGS. 6A to 6Dwill now be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 24A to26.

As shown in FIG. 24C, a base unit 61 is operably connected to a bar codesymbol printing engine 62. As shown,base unit 61 is interfaced with hostcomputer system (e.g., desk-top computer) 64 by way of serial datacommunications cable 65. Power cable 66 is connected to a connector jackon PC board 68 and supplies electrical power to primary transformer 67by way of a conventional current chopper circuit 412 realized on PCboard 68, and wires 69 extending therebetween. As shown, PC board 68 ismounted on a base plate 400 having a pair of spaced apart projections401A and 401B disposed within the plane of the base plate. Base unithousing 73 is adapted to snap-fit onto base plate 400. A circularaperture 404 is provided in the top panel of housing 73 to permit theenergy of acoustical acknowledgment signals emanate from theelectroacoustical transducer mounted on PC board 68.

As shown in FIG. 24A and 24B, bar code symbol printing engine 62comprises a base plate 405 on which a conventional bar code printingengine 406 is mounted, and a printing engine housing 407 that enclosesthe engine and connects to base plate 405 in a snap-fit manner. Housing407 has an aperture 408 in its top panel to permit the substrate 409 onwhich bar code labels 410 are printed. Base plate 405 has a pair ofspaced apart slots 411A and 411B, which are adapted to receive andengage projections 401A and 401B, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 25, base unit 61 comprises a number hardware andsoftware components, namely: a power supply circuit 273; a receivingantenna element 415; an RF carrier signal receiver circuit 416; a datapacket storage buffer 418; a base unit system controller 419; a datapacket frame check module 420; a transmitter number identificationmodule 421; a data packet number identification module 422; a symbolcharacter data extraction module 423; a data format conversion module424; an acoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit 425; serialdata transceiver circuit 426; and input/output(I/O) register 428. In theillustrative embodiment, a programmed microprocessor and associatedmemory (i.e., ROM and RAM) mounted on PC board 68, indicated byreference numeral 430, are used to realize base unit system controller419 and each of the above-described data processing modules 420 to 424.The details of such a programming implementation are known by those withordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

As shown in FIG. 25, the output of the symbol character data extractionmodule is provided to data format conversion module 424. The output ofdata format conversion module 424 is connected to serial datatransceiver circuit 426. In turn, serial data transceiver circuit 426 isconnected to the serial data input port of host computer 64, as shown.Notably, serial data transceiver circuit 426 is enabled by an enablesignal E_(DST) =1 produced by the base unit system controller. In allother respects, the architecture of base unit 61 is substantiallysimilar to the base unit of the first illustrative embodiment.

The overall operation of base unit 61 will be described below withreference to the control process shown in FIG. 26.

Prior to entering Block A in FIG. 26, only serial data transceivercircuit 426, base unit system controller 419 and radio receiver circuit416 are activated, while all other system components are disabled. Asillustrated at Block A in FIG. 26, the base unit system controller 419determines whether activation control signal A_(SD) =1 has beenreceived. If this control activation signal is received, then at BlockB, the base unit system controller enables the I/O register 428 todirect the received serial data to the printing engine 406. Thereafter,the base unit system controller returns to Block A in FIG. 26.

If at Block A, the base unit system controller does not receive controlactivation signal A_(SD) =1, but rather A_(SD) =0, then the base unitsystem controller proceeds to Block C in FIG. 26. At this control block,radio receiving circuit 416, system controller 419, and serial datatransceiver 426 are the only active system components; all other systemcomponents are inactive (i.e., disabled) including base unit systemcontroller 419, data packet storage buffer 418, data packet frame checkmodule 420, transmitter number identification module 421, data packetnumber identification module 422, symbol character data extractionmodule 423, data format conversion module 424, acousticalacknowledgement signal generation circuit 425, and serial datatransceiver circuit 426. With the radio receiving circuit 416 activated,base unit 61 is capable of receiving any modulated carrier signaltransmitted from any of the bar code symbol reading devices within thedata transmission range of the base unit.

At Block D in FIG. 26, radio receiving circuit 416 determines whether ithas received a transmitted carrier signal on its receiving antennaelement 415. If it has, then the radio receiving circuit generates asystem controller activation signal A₇, which activates base unit systemcontroller 419 shown in FIG. 25. Then at Block E, the base unit systemcontroller activates (i.e., enables) data packet storage buffer 418 anddata packet frame check module 420 by producing activation controlsignals E_(SB) =1 and E_(PFC) =1, respectively. At Block D, the baseunit system controller determines whether it has received anacknowledgement (i.e., control activation signal A_(PFC) =1) from thedata packet frame check module, indicating that the received data packetis properly framed. If the received data packet is not properly framed,then the base unit returns to Block A in order to redetect an incomingcarrier signal. However, if the received data packet is properly framed,then at Block G the base unit system controller enables the transmitternumber identification module by generating enable signal E_(TID) =1.

At Block H, the base unit system controller determines whether it hasreceived an acknowledgment (i.e., control activation signal A_(TID) =1)from the transmitter number identification module that the received datapacket contains the correct transmitter identification number (i.e., thesame number assigned to the base unit and stored in storage unit 417).If the Transmitter Identification Number contained within the receiveddata packet does not match the Base Unit Identification Number stored instorage unit 417, then the base unit system controller returns to BlockA, whereupon it resumes carrier signal detection. If, however, theTransmitter Identification Number contained in the received data packetmatches the Base Unit Identification Number, then at Block I the baseunit system controller enables the data packet number identificationmodule 422 by generating enable signal E_(DPID) =1.

At Block J in FIG. 26, the base unit system controller determineswhether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control activationsignal A_(DPID) =1) from the data packet identification moduleindicating that the received data packet is not a redundant data packet(i.e., from the same transmitted-data packet group). If the receiveddata packet is a redundant data packet, then the base unit systemcontroller returns to Block A, whereupon carrier signal detection isresumed. If, however, the received data packet is not redundant, then atBlock K the base unit system controller enables symbol character dataextraction module 423 by generating enable signal E_(DE) =1. At Block L,the symbol data extraction module reads the symbol character datacontained in the received data packet, checks the data for statisticalreliability, and the writes the extracted symbol character data bytesinto a storage buffer (not explicitly shown). Then as indicated at BlockM, the base unit system controller enables the data format conversionmodule 424 by generating enable signal E_(DFC) =1. In response to thisenable signal, data format conversion module 424 converts the dataformat of the retrieved symbol character data and then buffers theformat-converted symbol character data bytes.

When the data format conversion process is successfully completed, thebase unit system controller proceeds to Block N and enables the serialdata transceiver circuit 426 by generating enable signal E_(DSW) =1. Atthis stage of the control process, the format-converted data istransmitted from serial data transceiver circuit 426, to the serial datainput port of host computer system 64 using serial data transmissiontechniques well known in the art. When the serial data transmissionprocess is successfully completed, the base unit system controllerenables at Block O the acoustical acknowledgement signal generationcircuit 425 by producing enable signal E_(AA) =1. In response to theproduction of this enable signal, acoustical acknowledgment signalgeneration circuit 425 generates a high intensity acoustical signal, asdescribed above, in order to inform the user that a transmitted datapacket has been received and that the symbol character data packagedtherein has been successfully recovered and transmitted to the hostcomputer. Thereafter, the base unit system controller returns to theBlock A, as shown.

The fifth illustrative embodiment of the base unit of the presentinvention will now be described in greater detail with reference toFIGS. 27 to 30.

As shown in FIG. 27, base unit 61' is similar in many respects to thefourth illustrative embodiment of the base unit, shown in FIGS. 6A to 6Dand FIG. 24C. As shown, base unit 61' is interfaced with host computersystem (e.g., desk-top computer) 64 having a CPU 64A, video displaymonitor 64B and a keyboard 64C. CPU 64A is interfaced with base unit 61'by way of serial data communication cable 65, and keyboard 64C isinterfaced with base unit 61 by way of serial data communication cable440. Power cable 66 is connected to a connector jack on PC board 68'inside base unit 61' and supplies electrical power to primarytransformer 67 by way of wires 69 and a conventional current choppercircuit 412 on PC board 68'. As shown, PC board 68' is mounted on baseplate 400, whereas keyboard cable input jack 440 is mounted on baseplate 400, for receiving the connector cable of a conventional keyboard.Base unit housing 73' is adapted to snap fit onto base plate 400. Asshown, base unit housing 73 has a keyboard jack aperture 441 to permit akeyboard connector insert into keyboard cable input jack 440. Circularaperture 404 is provided in the top panel of housing 73' to permit theenergy of acoustical acknowledgment signals emanate from theelectroacoustical transducer 445 mounted on PC board 68'.

As shown in FIG. 29, base unit 61' comprises substantially the samehardware and software components employed in the fourth illustrativeembodiment of the base unit shown in FIG. 25, namely: power supplycircuit 273; receiving antenna element 415; RF carrier signal receivercircuit 416; base unit identification number storage unit 417; datapacket storage buffer 418; base unit system controller 419; data packetframe check module 420; transmitter number identification module 421;data packet number identification module 422; symbol character dataextraction module 423; an ASCII-Data-to-Keyboard-Scancode conversionmodule 442; acoustical acknowledgment signal generation circuit 425; anddata switching circuit 443. In the illustrative embodiment, a programmedmicroprocessor and associated memory (i.e., ROM and RAM) mounted on PCboard 68', indicated by referenced numeral 430, are used to realize baseunit system controller 419 and each of the above-described dataprocessing modules 418 to 424 and 442. The details of such a programmingimplementation are known by those with ordinary skill in the art towhich the present invention pertains.

As shown in FIG. 29, the output of the symbol character data extractionmodule is provided to ASCII-Data-to-Keyboard-Scancode conversion module442. Also, the serial data output port ofASCII-Data-to-Keyboard-Scancode conversion module 442 is connected toone data input port of data switching circuit 443, whereas the serialdata output port of keyboard 64C is connected to the other data inputport of the data switching circuit 443. In turn, the serial data outputport of the data switching circuit 443 is connected to the serial datainput port of host computer 64, as shown. Notably, the operation of dataswitching circuit 443 is normally activated (i.e., enabled) independentof base unit system controller 119 so that serial data output from thekeyboard is routed through the data switching circuit to the hostcomputer keyboard port. In all other respects, the architecture of baseunit 61' is substantially similar to the base unit of the fourthillustrative embodiment.

The overall operation of base unit 61' will be described below withreference to the control process shown in FIG. 30.

At control Block A in FIG. 30, radio receiving circuit 415 is the onlyactive system component; all other system components are inactive (i.e.,disabled) including base unit system controller 419, data packet storagebuffer 418, data packet frame check module 420, transmitter numberidentification module 421, data packet number identification module 422,symbol character data extraction module 423,ASCII-Data-to-Keyboard-Scancode format conversion module 424, andacoustical acknowledgment signal generation circuit 425. With the radioreceiving circuit 416 activated, base unit 61' is capable of receivingany modulated carrier signal transmitted from any of the bar code symbolreading devices within the data transmission range of the base unit.

At Block B in FIG. 30, radio receiving circuit 415 determines whether ithas received a transmitted carrier signal on its receiving antennaelement 415. If it has, then the radio receiving circuit generates asystem controller activation signal A₇, which activates base unit systemcontroller 419. Then at Block C, the base unit system controlleractivates (i.e, enables) data packet storage buffer 418 and data packetframe check module 420 by producing activation control signals E_(SB) =1and E_(PFC) =1, respectively. At Block D, the base unit systemcontroller determines whether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e.,control activation signal A_(PFC) =1) from the data packet frame checkmodule, indicating that the received data packet is properly framed. Ifthe received data packet is not properly framed, then the base unitreturns to Block A in order to redetect an incoming carrier signal.However, if the received data packet is properly framed, then at Block Ethe base unit system controller enables the transmitter numberidentification module by generating enable signal E_(TID) =1.

At Block F, the base unit system controller determines whether it hasreceived an acknowledgment (i.e., control activation signal A_(TID) =1)from the transmitter number identification module that the received datapacket contains the correct transmitter identification number (i.e., thesame number assigned to the base unit and stored in storage unit 417).If the Transmitter Identification Number contained within the receiveddata packet does not match the Base Unit Identification Number stored instorage unit 417, then the base unit system controller returns to BlockA, whereupon it resumes carrier signal detection. If, however, theTransmitter Identification Number contained in the received data packetmatches the preassigned Base Unit Identification Number, then at Block Gthe base unit system controller enables the data packet numberidentification module 422 by generating enable signal E_(DPID) =1.

At Block H in FIG. 26, the base unit system controller determineswhether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control activationsignal A_(DPID) =1 from the data packet identification module indicatingthat the received data packet is not a redundant data packet (i.e., fromthe same transmitted data packet group). If the received data packet isa redundant data packet, then the base unit system controller returns toBlock A, whereupon carrier signal detection is resumed. If, however, thereceived data packet is not redundant, then at Block I the base unitsystem controller enables symbol character data extraction module 423 bygenerating enable signal E_(DE) =1. At Block J, the symbol dataextraction module reads the symbol character data contained in thereceived data packet, checks the data for statistical reliability, andthen writes the extracted symbol character data bytes into a storagebuffer (not explicitly shown). Then as indicated at Block K, the baseunit system controller enables the ASII-data-to-Keyboard-Data formatconversion module 442 by generating enable signal E_(DFC) =1. Inresponse to this enable signal, data format conversion module 442converts the data format of the retrieved symbol character data and thenbuffers the format-converted symbol character data bytes.

When the data format conversion process is successfully completed, thebase unit system controller proceeds to Block L and enables dataswitching circuit 443 to output the converted scan codes to the hostkeyboard port, by generating enable signal E_(DSW) =1. At this stage ofthe control process, the format-converted data is transmitted throughdata switching circuit 443 to the serial data keyboard input port ofhost computer system 64, using serial data transmission techniques wellknown in the art. When the serial data transmission process issuccessfully completed, the base unit system controller enables, atBlock M, the acoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit 425 byproducing enable signal E_(AA) =1. In response to the production of thisenable signal, acoustical acknowledgment signal generation circuit 425generates a high intensity acoustical signal, as described above, inorder to inform the user that a transmitted data packet has beenreceived and that the symbol character data packaged therein has beensuccessfully recovered and transmitted to the host computer. Thereafter,the base unit system controller returns to the Block A, as shown.

It is appropriate at this juncture to illustrate the automatic hands-onand hands-free modes of operation of the system while utilized indifferent mounting installations. For purposes of illustration only, thesystem of the first illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3A willbe used to illustrate such mounting illustrations.

A point-of-sale station is shown in FIGS. 31A to 31D, as comprising anelectronic cash register 6 operably connected to the automatic bar codereading system of the first illustrative embodiment by way of flexiblecommunication cable 7. Low voltage DC power is provided to base unit 3by way of flexible power supply cable 8. In this particular mountinginstallation, base unit 3 is supported on a horizontal countertopsurface. If necessary or desired in such mounting installations, thebase plate of base unit 3 may be weighted by affixing one or more densemass elements to the upper surface of the base plate.

With automatic bar code reading device 2 supported within scannersupport stand portion of the base unit, as shown in FIG. 31A, the systemis automatically induced into its automatic long-range hands-free modeof operation. However, owing to the positioning of both object detectionand scan fields in this mounting installation, only bar code symbolslocated on small, very low profile objects can be easily read. In orderto induce the system into its short-range hands-on mode of operation,the user simply encircles the handle portion of the hand-supportabledevice with his or her fingers, and then lifts the device out of thescanner support stand, as shown in FIGS. 31B. Upon lifting the deviceout of its stand, the range selection circuit 115 (e.g., including aHalt-effect magnetic flux sensor (mounted in the handle of the housing)detects the absence of magnetic flux produced from a permanent magnetmounted in the support stand, and automatically generates theshort-range control activation signal (i.e., R₁ =0). The details of thisrange mode-selection mechanism can be found in copending applicationSer. No. 07/761,123, supra.

With the automatic bar code reading device held in the user's hand, anda bar coded object 435 in the other hand, the object is moved into theshort-range portion of the object detection field as shown in FIG. 31C,where the object is automatically detected, and bar code symbol 436automatically scanned while the visible laser beam is repeatedly scannedacross the scan field. After the bar code symbol has been successfullyread (i.e., detected and decoded) and a transmitted data packetcontaining symbol character data has been received and processed at baseunit 3 in a manner described hereinabove, a highly audible acousticalacknowledgement signal sack of a predetermined pitch is produced fromthe base unit. Thereafter, the bar code reading device is placed backwithin the scanner support stand, as shown in FIG. 31D, where it is onceagain induced into its long-range hands-free mode of operation.

In FIGS. 32 to 33B, a point-of-sale station is shown comprising theautomatic bar code reading system of the present invention operablyconnected to electronic cash register 6 by way of flexible communicationand power supply cables 7 and 8. In this particular mountinginstallation, base unit 3 and its associated scanner support stand arepivotally supported above a horizontal counter surface by way of apivotal joint assembly 265 connected to pedestal base 266 mounted underthe electronic cash register, as shown. When installed in the mannerillustrated, scanner support stand 3 can be adjustably positioned andlocked into virtually any orientation in three-dimensional space, owingto the three principle degrees of freedom provided by the pivotal jointassembly.

With automatic bar code reading device positioned within scanner standportion of base unit 3 as shown in FIG. 32, the system is automaticallyinduced into its long-range hands-free mode of operation by way of themagnetic flux sensing technique disclosed in copending application Ser.No. 07/761,123. By simply moving object 435 into the object detectionfield, the bar code symbol 436 is repeatedly scanned by the visiblelaser beam scanned across the scan field. To induce the automatic barcode reading system into its short-range hands-on mode of operation, theuser simply grasps the automatic bar code reading device and lifts itout of the scanner support stand, as illustrated in FIG. 33A. Then, byplacing object 435 into the short-range portion of the object detectionfield as shown in FIG. 33B, the object is automatically detected and barcode symbol 436 scanned by the visible laser beam repeatedly scannedacross the scan field. After the bar code symbol has been successfullyread and an audible acoustical acknowledgment signal produced asherebefore described, the automatic bar code reading device can beplaced back into the scanner support stand, automatically inducing thesystem into its long-range hands-free mode of operation.

Having described the preferred embodiments of the present invention,several modifications come to mind.

For example, in alternative embodiments of the present invention, theautomatic portable bar code symbol reading device may not incorporatewithin its housing, electronic circuitry for carrying out control,decoding and other data processing functions. Instead such electroniccircuitry may be contained within a remote unit operably associated withthe hand-supportable device by way of the flexible scanner cable. Insuch embodiments, the hand-supportable device will function as anautomatic hand-supportable laser scanner, rather than a bar code symbolreader.

The automatic bar code reading system of the present invention iscapable of performing a wide variety of complex decision-makingoperations in real-time, endowing the system with a level ofintelligence hitherto unattained in the bar code symbol reading art.Within the spirit of the present invention, additional decision-makingoperations may be provided to further enhance the capabilities of thesystem.

While the particular illustrative embodiments shown and described abovewill be useful in many applications in code symbol reading, furthermodifications to the present invention herein disclosed will occur topersons with ordinary skill in the art. All such modifications aredeemed to be within the scope and spirit of the present inventiondefined by the appended claims to invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable bar code symbol reading system fordesktop use, comprisinga hand-graspable housing having physicaldimensions which permit said hand-graspable housing to be graspedsubstantially within the palm of a user's hand and moved on the surfaceof a desktop, said hand-graspable housing further including a bottomsurface for contact with said desktop during bar code symbol readingoperations, a viewing aperture formed in said bottom surface, and alight transmission aperture through which visible light can exit andenter said hand-graspable housing, wherein a bar code symbol, on anobject supported on said desktop surface, is viewable by the user alonga line of sight extending from said viewing aperture the viewer's eye;bar code symbol reading means disposed in said hand-graspable housingfor reading said viewable bar code symbol, and producing symbolcharacter data representative of the read bar code symbol, scan dataproducing means in said hand-graspable housing, for producing scan datafrom an object located in a scan field defined external to said lighttransmission aperture, said scan data producing means including a laserbeam source disposed in said hand-supportable housing for producing avisible laser beam, laser beam scanning means for projecting saidvisible laser beam through said light transmission aperture and forrepeatedly scanning said visible laser beam across said scan field and abar code symbol on said detected object, and laser light detecting meansfor detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said bar codesymbol and passing through said light transmission aperture, and forautomatically producing scan data indicative of said detected intensity;a bar code symbol detection circuit disposed in said hand-graspablehousing, for processing produced scan data so as to detect said bar codesymbol on said detected object, and automatically generating anactivation signal in response to the detection of said bar code symbol;and a programmed microprocessor disposed in said hand-graspable housingand responsive to said activation signal, for processing produced scandata so as to decode said detected bar code symbol, and automaticallyproducing symbol character data representative of said decoded bar codesymbol in response to the decoding of said detected bar code symbol. 2.The portable bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said barcode symbol reading means comprises an automatic bar code symbol readingsystem.
 3. The portable bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, whichfurther comprises object detection means in said hand-graspable housing,for automatically activating said scan data producing means upondetection of said object at least a portion of said scan field.
 4. Theportable bar code symbol reading system of claim 3, wherein said barcode symbol has first and second envelope borders, and said bar codesymbol detection circuit detects said bar code symbol by processing scandata associated wit bars and spaces occurring between said first andsecond envelope borders.
 5. The portable automatic bar code symbolreading system of claim 3, wherein said object detection meanscomprisessignal transmitting means for transmitting a signal into saidscan field, and signal receiving means for receiving said transmittedsignal reflected off said object in at least a portion of scan field. 6.The portable automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 5,wherein said signal transmitting means comprisesan infra-red lightsource for transmitting a pulsed infra-red light signal, and whereinsaid signal receiving means comprises an optical element for focusingreflected infra-red light pulses onto an infra-red light detectordisposed in said hand-graspable housing.
 7. The portable bar code symbolreading system of claim 1, which further comprises battery power supplymeans contained in said hand-graspable housing, for supplying electricalpower to components contained therein.
 8. The portable bar code symbolreading system of claim 7, which further comprises a radio frequencymeans, disposed in said hand-graspable housing, for transmitting saidsymbol character data to a peripheral device.
 9. The portable bar codesymbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said laser light sourcecomprises a laser diode.